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REPORT OK PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONFERENCE

" tests with a view to effecting improvements if found " necessary." The resolution was carried unanimously. Tin. CHAIRMAN : Now we come to th-- question ot compasses. Mn. ANDERSON: I move: "That the Hoard of " Trade standard of compass efficiency as testified by current certificates shall be accepted for British ships in Australian and New Zealand waters as being of the " same effect .is local certificates." The purpose of this resolution is to make the principle already accepted by re-solution No. 1 lor hull, machinery, boilers, and lifesaving appliances, applicable also to compasses. Assuming that sections 2i5, i46, and 247, of the Australian Navigation Bill are maintained in principle, and that it is the intention that every ship should have her compasses Tin. CHAIRMAN : 1 think it is very important that the Australian delegates should be present. Dr. Wollaston, I call your attention to No. 4 of the agenda, and ask you whether it can be discussed in the absence of your . olleagiies. Dr. WOLLASTON : We do not conside. that a matter of very great importance. I think the meeting might deal with that. In our new measure we propose to provide for it. I think it was our intention that the Board of Trade certificate should be 1 accepted. Generally we always try to accept the Board of Trade certificate and rules and regulations; even in cases where we take the power to make our own regulations we always base them on the Board of Trade regulations, so that they are practically the same. That was the case for many years in Victoria. 'The CHAIRMAN : Then you may proceed, Mr. Anderson, under those circumstances. Mr. ANDERSON : I do not think I need labour the point if that is the case. If it was intended that the compasses should be surveyed on every occasion of a ship setting out on a voyage, I am advised that such procedure would not only be without advantage, but would be a positive source of danger. It is a highly technical queslion, and I do nol profess to be an expert, but I will do my beet to explain tie point. 1 am told that deviation in compasses is caused by two kinds of magnetism, one permanent and the other induced. The permanent magnetism, as its name implies, is a constant, factor. Induced magnetism varies with geographical position. lam further told that the accurate adjustment of compasses depends upon the nice apportionment of the influence exercised by the permanent and induced magnetisms respectively. Now that nice apportionment can only be arrived at after a long series of experiments, and it follows therefore that. given the necessary knowledge-, the people who are best qualified to adjust compasses are the officers of the ship itself. Of course, where the officers of the ship have not the necessary knowledge it should be done by an adjuster. In any ease, however, I maintain the responsibility should he left upon the officers of the ship to see that the cornpasse- are- to theii satisfaction and may safely be left upon them, because, after all, their lives and their livelihood depend upon the efficiency of (he compasses. On tin- other hand, it would be a distinct hardship in the case of a captain who is an expert, who by a long course of study has acquainted himself with all the idiosyncrasies of his compasses, and is able to adjust the errors, or knows the errors, that the ship should have to have the services of an adjuster who, although he may be perfectly qualified to adjust the compasses so as to be true for one given position, would destroy the confidence of the captain in those compasses for every other position on the face of the globe. In fact, the captain would have to recommence his labour all over again. lam told that, as a matter of fact, there are very few men living who have the- necessary scientific qualifications to adjust a com pass finally and completely, and I therefore urge that tin Board of Trade principle should be adopted in the of compasses of " leave well alone." The captain is called upon by the Board of Trade either to give a certificate of satisfaction or call in an adjuster. I would like to remark that it is not the intention of this resolution in any way to derogate, any more than resolution No. 1 cloes, from the powers of the Commonwealth or of New Zealand to intervene, if they have reason to suppose that a ship is unseaworthy in the matter of her compasses, any .more than it was the intention to limit their powers with regard to a ship which they have e to suppose was unseaworthy in other respe

Mr. HAVELOCK WILSON : I would like to ask Mr. Anderson this question. Would he say that a ship which has been absent from the United Kingdom, say, three wars, should not have her compasses adjusted by a proper compel, nt adjuster Mn. ANDERSON . 1 do not know of any certificate which runs for three years. Mu. HAVELOCK Wll.sox ; 1 quite agree with what you say that there are many masters, and perhaps officers for that matter, who are competent to adjust their own compasses, but at the same lime there nc many officers and masters who know- nothing about it. Captain CH M.MEKS : It is in tin- master's examination. Mil. HAVELOCK WILSON : A master might pass an examination to adjust a compass, but that does not make him a competent adjuster of compasses. As a matter of I think Mi. Anderson will agree with me on this point thai n.-arly every ship has hei compasses adjusted from time lo time in the United Kingdom. Although a master may have knowledge to do it himself it is done by proper adjusters. I am looking at ships which are a long time away from the United Kingdom. 'Tin: (HAIRMAN : I am told a certificate only lasts twelve months. Mr. HAVELOCK WILSON : That is what I want to know- from Mr. Anderson. Mu. NORMAN HILL: As the resolution stands it only deals with a vessel holding a certificate from the Board of Trade. Mn. HAVELOCK WILSON : I think that is all right. 'Tin; (HAIRMAN : This has been suggested to me. mi Joseph Ward did not quite like the form in which the resolution was placed upon the paper; he thought it might he capable of interfering with New Zealand rights in the matter, but he is willing to accept it in this form: "That a current certificate issued by the Board "of 'Trade as to l he efficiency of compasses shall have "the- same- effect s local certificates." Mr. Anderson is prepared to accept it in that form. 1 want to get on to Mr. Belcher's two resolutions, and 1 put this. Mr. BELCHEB : Before it is put to the- meeting I would like to ask this : Is there .my Board of Trade -upei vision over tin- adjustment of compasses, or is it left .nt irely to the officers! Captain t HALMERS : The Board of Trade surveyor in giving his declaration has to declare that boats, signals, - ompasses. 4c, arc- m such condition as are required by Hiis Act. In our instructions we tell them that if they i ertificate signed by the master and the mate of the ship who have been with her on her previous voyage, saying that the errors of her compasses are known to I heni and can be applied, he has to accept that certificate, and embody it in his own, or the certificate of a known adjuster they ire to accept that. Mn. BELCHEB : What I wanted to get information about was whether a certificate with regard to the correctness ot the compasses or otherwise was provided by an officer of tin Roard of Trade, or whether it was supplied by the' officei of th,. ship. Apparently it is done by the officer of the- ship. Now. in New Zealand all compasses an- adjusted bj a licensed adjuster. It is not left to the master or officer of the ship at all to issue a certificate in connection with that matter. I quite see- certain objections to that being permitted. It has I n said, of course-, with a good deal of foiee perhaps, that 11„- officer of the hip will always see ihat his compasses are in good order for his own self-preservation. That, of course, is an ion. Rut, as has been said by Mr. Wilson, some of those officers may not have sufficient scientific knowledge t, know whether they are correct or otherwise. Mr. Anderson has told us it is a highly scientific piece of work to know just exactly when a compass is efficient or otherwise. Personally, I would not care to agree- (as one of Ihe New Zealand representatives) that a certificate of efficiency with regard to compasses should be accepted there which was of a lower description than what is required in New Zealand.