CO129-378 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1911 [6-7] — Page 233

:

18

40. The licence fees to be charged shall be balf those Licence provided for Lighters, Cargo and Water Boats.

Objects and Rousons.

Clause 2 of the Bill relieves steam trawlers and other mechanically propelled fishing vessels from some of the requirements of the Principal Ordinance with regard to the certificates of competency of their officers. Clause 3, on the analogy of section of Ordinance No. 10 of 1887, which deals with vechicles on land, provides a fitting punishment (850) fiue or two mouths imprison- ment with or without hard labour) for persons who bire boats and refuse to pay for them. Clause 4 requires all junks within the waters of the Colony, to be licensed. Formerly licensing was not compulsory and could only be effected under sub-sections (14), (15) and (16) of section 30 of the Principal Ordinance which is repealed by the Bill. Formerly also section 39 of the Principal Ordinance dealt with junks and section 40 with boats, lighters, hulks, etc. The new section 39 contains all that it is desirable to retain of both sections. The terms "vessel " ‘ship” and “junk are defined in see- tion 2 of the Principal Ordinance. In the new Table T the fees for fishing licences remain as before but the fees for trading licences are increased because the special permit is doue away with except under exceptional circumstances. Licences in future are to be supplied in book form and so form a permanent history of the vessels in respect of which they are issued. In the new Table U there is but little change. In accordance with the rerms of the new section 39 of the Ordinance, Revenue Officers are given powers similar to those possessed already by Police and Harbour Department Officers and persons on board vessels stopped and searched are required to give information us to the ownership of the vessel. When in Chinese waters licensed boats are required to produce their licences, on demand, to Officers of the Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs.

31

C. G. ALABASTER, Attorney General,

Foen.

227