131

A.—sa

KEI'ORT OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONFERENCE.

Mb. LLEWELLYN SMITH : If there is no more debate and there is no amendment, I will put the proposition. Mr. NORMAN HILL : Might we ask that if the Board of Trade do investigate and do make recommendations, whether those recommendations will be acted on in Australia and New Zealand ? Sm WILLIAM LYNE : You always ask knotty questions. Mr. NORMAN HILL : Surely it is not unreasonable to ask that. Sir WILLIAM LYNE : We have our own power to legislate, and if you don't do what we think right, we will legislate for ourselves. Mr. NORMAN HILL : Is it reasonable to put a motion asking the Board to make inquiry when you won't act on it ? Sm WILLIAM LYNE : I did not _ay we won't. Mr. NORMAN HILL :If it pleases you. If it does not please us, we shall have to submit to it. Sm WILLIAM LYNE : I think it is a matter for your sailors, and if they submit to it we do not mind. We will look after ourselves. Mr. LLEWELLYN SMITH : You have heard what the representative of the British seamen said, Mr. Reich er; I do not know whether you wish to press your motion. Mb. BELCHER : Supposing the resolution is lost, I should like to have it on record that the matter was taken into consideration.

Mb. ANDERSON : The first part of the motion is superfluous, and with regard to the last part it seems to me it is not desirable or applicable. Hon. DUGALD THOMSON : Mr. Belcher has brought forward a motion and stated his views. We have our own legislative powers; isn't that sufficient? Mb. LLEWELLYN SMITH : We are content, of course, with our present system, and both the seamen and the shipowners are content with it, and under the circumstances we naturally cannot accept the motion. You have powers, of course, to do what you like for your own business. Still, I cannot say, and I won't say, this is out of order. The motion is perfectly in order. Sm WILLIAM LYNE : It seems to me the effect of the motion is this : there is the law and there seems to have been a weakness in the administration. The effect of this motion, I take it, would be simply to direct attention to that one fact that the administration has not carried out that which was intended, and emphasize it so that the administration may be more completely carried out —that seems to be the effect of the motion. Mb. LLEWELLYN SMITH : I think that is the effect of some of the speeches, not the motion. Mr. WALTER J. HOWELL : I cannot admit any weakness in administration. What you propose is that the Board of Trade should act as a Court of Law, and that is impossible. Mr. BELCHER : If the motion is withdrawn, will it appear on the notes as having been discussed ? Mb. LLEWELLYN SMITH : Certainly. Mb. BELCHER : Then I will withdraw the motion. The Conference then adjourned till Monday, April 22nd.

SEVENTH DAY. Monday, April 22nd, 1907. The following were present: — Right Hon. D. Lloyd George, M.P., Chairman. United Kingdom Delegates. Mr. H. Llewellyn Smith, C.8.,} Mr. E. Pembroke, \ Mr. Walter J. Howell, C.8., I Of the Board of Mr. H. F. Fernie Mr. R. Ellis Cunliffe, Trade. Mr. R. J. Dunlop', f shl P own ers. Capt. A. J. G. Chalmers, ) Mr. Norman Hill,' J Mr. fl. Bertbam Cox, C.8., of the Colonial Office. Mr. J. Havelock Wilson, M.P., representing Seamen. Australian Delegates. Hon. Sir W. J. Lyne, K.C.M.G. I Hon. Dugald Thomson. Hon. W. M. Hughes. Dr. H. N. Wollaston, LL.D., 1.5.0., of the Australian Commonwealth Department of Trade and Customs, was also in attendance. New Zealand Delegates. Hon. Sir Joseph Ward, K.C.M.G. j Mr. William Belcheb. Mr. James Mills. | Mr. A. R. Hislop. Dr. Fitchett, Solicitor-General of New Zealand, was also in attendance. Secretaries. *' &\% EB ' lOf the Board of Trade. I Mr. J. Hislop, Private Secretary to Sir J. Ward. Mr. G. E. Baker, f | Mr. D. J. Quinn, Private Secretary to Sir W. Lyne.