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necessity to take out a license, provided
that they carried only free emigrants. The
exemption was specially intended to apply to
the case of regular lines which carried on a
continual and well conducted traffic with the
Straits Settlements and other neighbouring
countries.
In 1871 with a view further to
relieve such vessels an Ordinance was passed
exempting ships entering on a voyage of not
more than thirty days from the more stringent
requirements of the Act of 1855 and from the
necessity of obtaining a licence which cost
$100. The Emigration officer was, however,
authorised to refuse the clearance certificate
required by the Act of 1855 if the emigrants
were under contract. Under these provisions,
contract emigration for foreign countries
was still prevented by the exercise of the Emigra-
tion Officers' powers but he was not empowered to