31
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14.
Clause 16 amends section 23 to enable a board of
reference to proceed with an appeal under section 20 in the
absence of the seaman where it is satisfied that the seaman
has been served with the notice of hearing personally.
15.
Clause 17 amends section 24 so as to provide that
a copy of an entry in a ship's official log book or other
similar document certified by, and any deposition purporting
to be signed by, a duly accredited consular officer shall be
admissible in evidence in proceedings before a board of
reference in cases where such documents certified or signed,
as the case may be, by a British consul are presently admitted
under the section.
16.
Clauses 18 and 20, which repeal and replace.
sections 26 and 29 respectively, are consequential to clause
14. In both sections, subsections (1), (2) and (3) are
re-enacted with modifications. Under section 26(3) a board
in an appeal against a suspension will have power to increase
the period of suspension to a period not exceeding 24 months
and to substitute a written caution for a suspension. Under
section 29 a board, in a case referred to it under section
18(1)(ii) will have power, under subsection (1), to suspend
a registration for a period not exceeding 24 months, instead
of the present 12 months, and to issue the seaman with a
written caution.
17.
Clauses 21, 22(a), 23 and 25(b) amend sections 34,
36, 37 and 40 consequentially upon clause 13. Clause 22
further amends section 36 by inserting a new subsection (3)
which will make compulsory a practice that is generally
adopted at present at musters in the Seamen's Recruiting
Office.