602
No. 10 of 1899.
MERCHANT SHIPPING.
[3.5 contd.] with the engagement and discharge of seamen on board British ships, and foreign ships whose flag is not represented by a consular officer resident in the Colony, such ships being in the waters of the Colony. The Harbour Master shall be the Superintendent of the Mercantile Marine Office.
Shipping of seamen.
Agreement to be made for seamen.
57 & 58 Vict. c. 60, s. 113.
Penalty for shipping without agreement.
57 & 58 Vict. c. 60, s. 113.
Fees payable on engagement and discharge. Regulations Table I.
(2) No seaman shall, except with the sanction of the Harbour Master, be engaged to do duty on board a British ship, or any foreign ship whose flag is not represented by a consular officer resident in the Colony, elsewhere than at the Mercantile Marine Office; and the Superintendent shall require such seaman to produce to him his certificate of discharge from the last ship, and, failing the production of such certificate, such seaman shall be bound to give satisfactory explanation to the Harbour Master of the cause of the non-production thereof.
(3) The master of every British ship, and of every foreign ship whose flag is not represented by a consular officer resident in the Colony, shall enter into an agreement with every seaman whom he engages in the Colony, and carries to sea as one of his crew, in the form and manner provided by the Merchant Shipping Acts:
Provided that the agreements may be made for a voyage or, if the voyages of the ship average less than six months in duration, may be made to extend over two or more voyages, and agreements so made to extend over two or more voyages shall be referred to as running agreements: and provided also that running agreements shall not be for a longer period than six months or the first arrival of the ship at her port of destination in the Colony after the expiration of that period, or the discharge of cargo consequent on that arrival.
(4) Every master of any such ship who carries any seaman to sea without entering into an agreement with him in accordance with sub-section (3), shall be liable to a fine not exceeding fifty dollars.
(5) Such fees, not exceeding the sums specified in Table I in the Regulations, as may be fixed by the Governor in Council, shall be payable upon all engagements and discharges; and the Superintendent shall cause a scale of such fees to be conspicuously placed in the Mercantile Marine Office, and the Superintendent may refuse to proceed with any engagement or discharge, unless the fees payable thereon are first paid.