66
Chinese passengers
act should be restricted to Passenger Ships clearing out on Voyages exceeding 21 days duration for the purpose of relieving certain free Emigrants and the Ships in which they take their passage from the necessity of complying with the requirements of the act. A question arises whether it is in the power of the Legislature of this Colony to ordain any such measure.
The Imperial act in the 4th Section enacts that no Chinese passenger ship shall proceed on a voyage exceeding seven days duration except the Master has obtained a Copy of the aforesaid Regulations, a certificate from the Emigration officer of compliance therewith, and has entered into a Bond as prescribed.
It is true that the length of the Voyage is fixed by the Regulations, and the Colonial Legislature has power to make new regulations from time to time. But still the 24th Section stands, and no matter what regulations the Colonial legislature may make, still the Master of a passenger ship proceeding on a Voyage of more than seven days duration (whatever they may be) must obtain a copy of the regulations, a Certificate of Compliance, and must enter into the required Bond.
If the length of the Voyage which brings a ship within the act depended