German, Norwegian and Lwedish vessels trading in these waters, and competition promises to be keiner in the future than in the past. Huder Kese circumstances, we submit that it
unsive to handicap
would be
very British shipping which has hitherto held its own, by carrying out the proposed veterations in existing Regulations. The increase in the mercantile fleet of Japan is also watched with some un=
easives.
we
d as the same.
In writing the foregoing,. traversing old ground suggestions were made some
are
but on
years ago,
British
the representations. of Merchants here, they were eventually dropped, the Colonial Authorities recog, nising
the harm that would be done
to the British trade thereby.
While the rules enforced here
flags, it is a
are the same
matter
open
Lo
for all
very great douth whether
the
the presence of life rafts and life belts on board passenger steamers affords any greater security to life.
From our
ki
552
knowledge of the Chinese, gauch by experience, we think that few, if any, of the life belts would be availed of, either from prejudice. from want of knowledge in regards
them on. It is
His n
many years
or
A steamer
puthing since any serious accident, involving loss of life, happened' to an mmigrants leaving this port, and it is that steamers offer greater security thank junks, by which the Chinese would
beyond denial.
otherwise be obliged to travel.
In conclusion, we
beg
mostres.
dio.
pectfully to submit, for the consideration:
of His Excellency, the advrivability of pensing with the present regulation that passenger skamers carry life Rafts and Beets, or, if he cannot see his
do this, we
way to
:ext that the present
suggest
condition of things be allowed to remains
unaltered