sover it is not safe in calculating the length of voyages, which measures the amount of quantity of provisions - accommodation to leave no margin for accidents, bad weather or the innumerable unforceable contingencies of a sea voyage.
No buprugers Act al fan at I know has ever been drawn on such a principle. The Merchant Shipping Act fixes the voyage for Steamers to U. America at 40 days in Summer and 45 in Winter - though would not exceed 12 or 14 days. In like manner it calculates the voyage to Australia at 146 days though an average would probably give more than 100 days. In the Indian Passenger Act the voyage from Calcutta to the Straits is fixed at 19 weeks equal to 133 days which is much more than an average. Calculations of voyage time to time occurred showing the wisdom of leaving a large margin for accidents and the suffering that would have been caused without it.
Upon the whole if it is decided to relieve the O. & O. and the Messageries Maritimes from the restrictions of the Chinese Passengers Act, on the necessity for which I have heretofore expressed - it must I think be done by some exceptional legislation in their favor - not by reducing below their real duration the voyage on which the vessels of those Companies are employed.
I send copy of the foregoing minute to Lord K., sagung with the E.C.A. Mul. Lord K. Concurs in the view that the declared length of the voyage between Hong Kong & Singapore should not be relaxed.
Mr. Herbert 24/2 despatch. Embody that para in a draft at me. Heim Mar 26