174
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
TILLE C.O. 885
8
?
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
138
permit to a British ship, and to that extent, therefore, foreign ships have preference over British trade, and what we consider to be an unfair preference.
Well, then, there is another question. As we know, it is in certain cases the practice in foreign countries to subsidise freight shipping, not merely to make a necessary payment for a mail service, but distinctly and definitely to give a subsidy to a particular line of ships in order to enable them to com- pete by lower freight with British ships. Again, is it quite certain that it
would not be desirable in such cases to countervail what I believe to be an unfair practice. I mention these matters, and possibly other members of the Conference might wish to develop and discuss that part of the subject, but I would point out that it would make it clearer if we were to add these words, that-
"Any other existing arrangement which tends to the disad- "vantage of British shipping would be recommended to the considera. "tion of the Governments concerned."
Mr. SEDDON: I would like to ask, Mr. Chamberlain, could not the Colonial Legislature pass laws preventing a foreign vessel coming in that was not up to our load-line.
The SECRETARY OF STATE: I think so.
The PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE: I should think that was quite within the competence of the Colonies.
Mr. SEDDON: And if the Colonies could do that, or if the Harbour Board or the harbour authorities could prevent a vessel leaving under the
same croumstances.
The PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE: I have not the slightest objection to the addition of those words, in order that the matter may be looked into, but when it is looked into I think it will be found that the cases you referred to are very rare indeed-cases in which foreign vessels leave the shores of his country seriously overladen. A very close watch is kept. The law applied to foreign ships is the same as that which is applied to our own ships, with this exception, and we impose a mark and a load line, but we do not allow foreign ships to leave the shores of this country which in the opinion of our surveyors are laden beyond the point at which the load-line would be marked if those vessels were measured for the load-line.
The SECRETARY OF STATE: Of course I cannot say it is so long since I was at the Board of Trade that I would not presume to put my opinion against yours-but you are aware, whatever may be the facts of the case, the shipping interests of this country continue to complain most bitterly of the restrictions which are imposed against them, and which are not imposed against foreign ships———
The PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE: No doubt.
The SECRETARY OF STATE: Therefore this resolution would invite the Governments to consider that point. If they find that the shipowners have no cause for complaint in these respects, of course there would be absolutely no reason for interfering.
The PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE: I think it is a thing that ought to be inquired into, and that in some respects the law might be usefully changed.
Mr. SEDDON: And will you inquire into the question which I raised as to whether a Colony could pass a law that if a vessel had not the British load-line marked on her that they could stop her from coming in?
139
The PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE: I think they have the power; but I will have the inquiry made.
The SECRETARY OF STATE: Then the resolution will read :—-
"That it is desirable that the attention of the Governments of the "Colonies and the United Kingdom should be called to the present state "of the navigation laws in the Empire and in other countries, and "to the advisability of refusing the privileges of coastwise trade, including trade between the Mother Country and its Colonies and its possessions, and between one Colony or possession and another, to "Countries in which this trade is confined to ships of their own nationality, and also to the laws affecting shipping with the view of seeing whether any other steps should be taken to promote Imperial trade in British possessions.'
14
"
Those who are of the opinion that that should pass————
I
The PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE: Just a word. am sorry to appear troublesome, but I think there is a certain am- biguity in the resolution in consequence of the additions that have been made. The last line of the resolution as printed says, "this trade," which would, of course, refer to the coastwise trade, as the resolution was originally drafted. Now we have defined coastwise trade so as to include trade with distant possessions. There are countries which have no distant possessions.
Sir WILFRID LAURIER: But it only applies to considering matters, without pledging us at all.
The SECRETARY OF STATE: Really, I have done my best. Will see if you can do anything?
!
1,
you
The PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE: We might put in "the corresponding trade."
The SECRETARY OF STATE: "Such trade."
The PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE: "Such trade "the corresponding trade." I would suggest that change.
"
64
of
or
The SECRETARY OF STATE: Then the resolution is as follows:--
That it is desirable that the attention of the Governments "of the Colonies and the United Kingdom should be called "to the present state the navigation laws in the Empire, " and in other countries, and to the advisability of refusing the privileges of coastwise trade including trade between the Mother Country and its Colonies and possessions, and between one Colony or possession and another, to countries in which the corresponding "trade is confined to ships of their own nationality and also to the laws affecting shipping with a view of seeing whether any other steps should be taken to promote Imperial trade in British vessels."
44
LE
The resolution was put to the Conference and carried unanimously.
SHIPPING SUBSIDIES.
The SECRETARY OF STATE: The next is the "Shipping Subsidies.” The draft resolution is :--
That it is desirable in view of the great extension of foreign ** subsidies to shipping, the position of the mail services between
82
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.