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REPOUT OF PROCEEDINGS OP THE CONFERENCE.

The CHAIRMAN : This is the amendment that was carried eventually. We really have covered this. Ilov. W. M. HUGHES: Perhaps you will allow Captain Chalmers to give an expression of opinion about it. The CHAIRMAN : That will lead to debate. Hon. W. M. HUGHES : Will you allow me to do this, when the other matter has been discussed will you allow me to bring this in after that! Tin; CHAIRMAN : Vou have all the tenacity of the ancient race to which you and I belong, and which has enabled us to survive 2,000 years of persecution. Hon W. M. HUGHES : Kven though the persecutor is one of our own race. Tiik CHAIRMAN : I have been excessively indulgent to you. Now, Sir William Lyne. Sir WILLIAM LYNE : I was referring to this tion that was made to my resolution as submitted. No. :( : —" Providing that in respect to desertion from ships "other than those (a) registered in the Commonwealth, "(b) whose final port of discharge is in the Common- " wealth," &c. I may say that I have consulted Mr. Deakin about this, and he agrees with me that, unless an interpretation is placed upon this which it does not bear on its face now, it is simply impossible. How can any Government catch these men and put them on board. If it was inserted here that these deserters, "if captured," shall be placed on board, it would be different, but no Government can undertake to catch these deserters. Mr. COX : They undertake to try, and every foreign Government does Sir WILLIAM LYNE : This says, " Shall be placed "onboard such vessel." Mr. Deakin agrees with me it is an impossibility. I should like, if possible, to have that so worded that there is no obligation intended to be plac.d on the Government to capture these men. The CHAIRMAN : Very well, I think that concludes our business. Siu JOSEPH WARD : As we have finished our business, I want to move a resolution : " That this Conference " desires to place on record its appreciation of the ability " with which its proceedings have been presided over by "the Right Hon. Mr. Lloyd George, the President of the "Board of Trade." I want to move that resolution, and to say how very much we appreciate the courtesy and consideration, and recognise the marked ability that has been displayed by Mr. Lloyd George in presiding over the Conference. It has been a pleasure to us all to have been associated with a gentleman who not only thoroughly understands the intricacies of the Complex Shipping world, but who has been so kind and considerate (as have also been his co-delegates and staff) to us all. Sir WILLIAM LYNE : I should like to say, Mr. Lloyd. George, that I entirely concur with the remarks of Sir Joseph Ward, and if it had not already been moved, I should have moved a resolution myself to thank you all, and to thank you, sir, especially under very trying circumstances, for having conducted this Conference in a manner that I think must be satisfactory to every one. In one or two cases, if you had not had a great deal of tact, and displayed it, there might have been trouble. In addition to that, we might not have arrived at the harmonious conditions we have at the end of the Conference, and we might not also have arrived at decisions which mostly, I think, will commend themselves to our respective- (lovernments. So that we have to thank you in this regard. And I should like to add as well, that all the officials, not only on our side but on your side, have conducted the work with so great ability as to leave a lasting impression, so far as I am concerned. The great ability displayed and the great attention that has been given to everything that has been submitted to the Members of this Conference' has impressed itself upon me, and I shall return to Australia, so far as this Conference is concerned, and convey to those whom we come from, so far as I can, the same impression of matters. And I also have great pleasure in saying, that T have come to a somewhat different idea of the very imperious and persistent manner in which T anticipated the shipping delegates would have proceeded in consequence of the very able manner in which they have conducted their case, and

especially Mr; Norman Hill. And while he has been persistent in wanting to get something that he considers fair, it has been done with that grace and ability which has left no sting behind. Hon. DUGALD THOMSON : For once I entirely agree with Sir William Lyne. Hon. W. M. HUGHES : So do I. Mr. MILLS: 1 would like to say.l quite agree with what has been said by both Sir Joseph Ward and Sir William Lyne. Speaking as one of the New Zealand representatives, although we have not taken a very active part in the discussion, we have very highly appreciated the ability with which the business of the Conference has been conducted; and also the courtesy and consideration we have received from the other representatives of the Colonies, the members of the Colonial Office, and the Board of Trade, and also from the representatives of the shipowners. This has helped a great deal to smooth over differences and has had a considerable influence in regard to the satisfactory conclusions that have been arrived at. The representatives from New Zealand have not taken a very active part in the business of the Conference, as the shape which the proceedings have taken has rendered it unnecessary. When we were invited here, it was to consider the New Zealand Act and the proposed Australian legislation, and also to try and bring about some uniformity between Imperial legislation and Colonial. But that seemed to be put on one side at a very early date. The New Zealand Act was admitted to be unassailable, and also the right of the Colonies to legislate for themselves was conceded. Therefore, our part in the proceedings was a very small one.—(The resolution was then put to the meeting and carried unanimously.) The CHAIRMAN: On behalf of the British delegates and myself, I thank you for the resolution which you have- so kindly passed. It has been a great pleasure to me to meet the Colonial representatives for the first time. I am fairly new to office, and I undertook this task with a great deal of anxiety, because I saw that there were questions of very great moment, and of very great intricacy and complexity which would come before the Conference. But this Conference has proved by the result that there are no difficulties that cannot be overcome by people who have made up their minds to find a solution, and who have met in a perfectly amicable spirit. We have discussed these questions, and I think we have found the best possible solution under many circumstances. I must congratulate the Conference, as a whole, upon the workmanlike way in which we have proceedejd. I agree once or twice the proceedings were rather lively, but they were always conducted in the best of temper, and that has helped us to come to these conclusions which, I think, are very satisfactory, taking all things into account. I am exceedingly obliged for the courtesy which has been extended to me, personally, by all delegates present. I think before we part we ought to pass a resolution of thanks to the secretaries for thevery admirable assistance they have rendered us, and I move : —" That this Conference desires to express its "appreciation of the valuable assistance it has received "from its Secretary, Mr. J. A. Webster, and his col- " leagues, Mr. G. E. Baker, Mr. J. Hislop, and Mr. D. J. "Quinn." The energy and ability shown by these gentlemen have greatly lightened the labours of the Conference, and have materially tended to enable it to bring its sittings to a close in so short a time, and with, it is hoped, so satisfactory a result. Sir JOSEPH WARD : I have much pleasure in second ing that. I just want to say I am perfectly certain we ill agree with the good work they have done. And I want to further express the opinion that the result of this Conference, with such difficult, complex matters approached from various standpoints, shows the value of these Conferences, and I personally express the hope that from time to time such assemblages may take place. The CHAIRMAN : I only supplement that by expressing a hope that at the next Conference we may have the assistance of representatives from the other colonies as well. I think in certain respects it is a misfortune we did not have them this time. Sir WILLIAM LYNE : I would like to add that 1 hope the next Conference will be an International Conference, with a view of getting foreign Governments to bring their legislation up to the level of ours.