To the Editor of the Daily Sotjthbuj CpC m - Sib— lf Acts o£ Parliament do no good th«>' must dotw, if only in the loss of ti»: it takasto am and «force them. \ have been led to "MkeAjJ remark about the navigation laws, as I am a suffere* bv them. I have been master of sailing vessels fo* a number of years. > T ow, it stand. i to rewon, if a man is competent to take cbargjTof •*****£ he is quite competent to take obaim of a steamer, as they are much easier handled, although there * more responsibility.  .«•,_. Owners of steamers who knew me are q™te willing: to give me charge, and insurance companies are quwe willing to insure; and the Government, who know nothing about me, don't allow it, because I have noir. passed tti« Board— an easy matter to a schoolboy,, because there aie books printed with all the »nswer» that are required. The Board may get up a* many questions as they ohoose, and they will find men to answer them j but it is another matter when it comes to the doing. I have broached the subject to many men, and I have not found one man, who has considered the question, but said they were mere form only. Most people consider them necessary, which I do not. These laws have been in force a number of yean in England, but£are there' lew accidents than formerly ? I can't answer that question, but I do know that, as f»r as they have been in force in New Zealand, they have not answered. What few steamers there have been on the coast have been commanded by passed men, while sailing vesßelß have been oommanded by men who have beea known by th«r employers, without certificates j an* yet there are more steamers lost on the coast tnw» sailing ships, in proportion to the total numbers. UE course, in every case the compass has been in fault. 