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for uniformity of legislation upon the subject as between the several Australasian Colonies. "On a former occasion, when at the instance of this Society, the Victorian "Parliament attempted to deal with the subject, it was found impossible to do so through the fears expressed that the Act would be evaded by changing the port of registration of the interested shipping to a city in another colony."

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On the 25th August 1884, the Governor of Victoria forwarded a resolution passed at a public meeting held in Melbourne, under the auspices of the Society. The speakers advocated the amendment of the Passenger, Harbours, and Navigation Statute, 1865, in the direction above described. Thoy recommended that "representations should be "made to the proper authorities in England with a view to similar amendments being "made in the Imperial law, in order to prevent any conflict of jurisdiction and laws, "and to remove any impediment at present existing against the carrying out of "of these suggestions by the Victorian Parliament.'

any of that the Bill lately introduced into the Imperial Parliament by the President of the It was pointed out by the Society Board of Trade, but since withdrawn, did not contain any provision upon these subjects, although it seemed universally admitted that the existing law urgently required amendment.

This despatch was referred to the Board of Trade, who replied that the suggestions would receive consideration.

On the 3rd November 1884, the Governor of Victoria forwarded a memorandum from his ministers on the subject of this resolution. Mr. Service stated that the question had already received very full consideration, and a Bill had been prepared; but it was considered that though extensive powers were proposed by the Bill to be given, they could not be exercised in advance of British legislation. He therefore asked the Governor to draw the attention of Her Majesty's Government to the need of legislation by the Imperial Parliament, more especially as the Bill introduced by the Board of Trade did not contain any provision to meet the necessities now brought under notice.

This was communicated to the Board of Trade on the 24th December 1884, but no answer was returned.

On the 10th January 1885, the Governor of Queensland, in forwarding a letter from the Society urging his co-operation, expressed his personal concurrence in their views. The Board of Trade then stated that “ the subject would receive consideration": and the same answer was returned at their request to a similar communication from the Governor of South Australia.

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On the 14th March 1885, the Governor of Tasmania forwarded a correspondence with the Society from which it appeared that the Tasmanian Government "fully realise the necessity for the adoption and enforcement of better provisions for the "safety of life at sea, but that the necessary action must, in their opinion, be taken by the Imperial Government in the first place; and when the British Parliament "shall have passed the necessary measure the Government will be prepared to submit

a Bill to the Parliament of Tasmania to extend its provisions to the colony." The Queensland Government also invited the Secretary of State's attention to the propriety of such an amendment of the law as might "make it compulsory on shipowners to provide their vessels with sufficient life-saving apparatus."

The Board of Trade desired that the same replies as before might be sent to these representations.

On the 22nd October 1886, the President of the Society again wrote to the Secretary of State, urging that the views of the Society might be brought before the Royal Commission on the Loss of Life at Sea, which had recently been appointed in England.

This was sent to the Board of Trade, who acknowledged its receipt.

From a Reuter's telegram of the 7th instant, it appears that the question of the necessity for uniform legislation on the subject in England and the Colonies is to be brought before the Colonial Conference by the Victorian delegates. The Board of Trade were therefore asked what should be said on behalf of Her Majesty's Government in reply to the representations that might be made.

They have now replied that they see no reason why these questions should not be brought before the Conference, but observe that Her Majesty's Government propose at an early date to direct the attention of Parliament to the subject, and to suggest that the whole matter should be referred to a Parliamentary Committee. Should this Committee be appointed it would of course deal with any representations brought to its notice, whether made by the representatives of the Australian Governments or by such bodies as the Royal Humane Society of Australasia.

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The Board append a short statement* of the existing Imperial law on the subject, and the Board of Trade regulations,† and remark in conclusion that the general question of the loss of life at sea has recently been the subject of a long and careful inquiry by a Royal Commission, which, however, has not yet presented its report.

Colonial Office,

March 1887.

APPENDIX.

BOATS and LIFE-SAVING APPLIANCES in SEA-GOING SHIPS.

Section 292 and Table S. of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1854, prescribe the number of boats and life-buoys to be carried by all sea-going ships other than those which clear as emigrant ships under the Passengers Act, 1855.

Section 293 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1854, requires the boats and buoys to be kept always fit and ready for use.

Section 15 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1873, empowers the Board of Trade to reduce or vary the usual requirements in the case of vessels carrying only a limited number of passengers, and to allow rafts to be substituted. subject to certain conditions.

Section 27 of the Passengers Act. 1855, prescribes the number of boats to be carried by vessels clearing as emigrant ships.

The regulations laid down by the Board of Trade respecting the boats and life- buoys to be carried by passenger steamships are contained in paragraphs 23 to 33 of the attached Instructions to Surveyors, and those respecting the boats of vessels clearing under the Passengers Act in paragraph 34 of the same Instructions.

Under section 6 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1876, the Board of Trade and its officers have power to order the provisional detention for survey of any ship which they have reason to believe is (on account of defective equipments or other specified cause) unfit to proceed to sea without serious danger to human life.

Section 4 of the same Act provides that the taking or sending to sea of an unsafe British ship shall be deemed to be a misdemeanor under certain circumstances.

No. 50.

EMIGRANTS' INFORMATION OFFICE.

Colonial Office MEMORANDUM covering Report for the half year ended 31st March 1887. Ir is desirable that the Colonial representatives in this country should see the report which has been issued on the newly established Emigrants' Information Office, and it would be satisfactory if they could visit that office, and offer suggestions with a view to making its working more efficient.

At

present it appears to have given satisfaction to the public, the only opposition to it having been offered Mr. John Norton, the labour delegate from New South Wales, who was anxious that some representative of the Australian workmen should be added to the committee of management. There would be difficulty in making a satisfactory arrange- inent of that nature, as the meetings of the committee of management are not suitable for the discussion of political or other controversial questions; but if the Colonial representatives should be of opinion that any better means can be discovered of obtaining accurate information respecting the demand for labour in each Colony, the committee of management of the Emigrants' Information Office would be willing to consider any suggestions.

Colonial Office, May 1887.

* Printed as an Appendix.

↑ Not printed.

[C.--5078] June 1887.

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