The Express.
London, England, 1851-07-21 00:00:00

MERCANTILE MARINE ACT AMENDMENT
BILL.

The house went into committee on this bill.
Mr. A N DEILSON, in clause 17, moved an &menden
the object of which was to render owners sat vemels liable
to the payment of advance ticket., whether the sailors to
whom they hail been grunted widest or not. Ilia object
was to render the giving of such tickets (which were for
two months' wages before the ship sailed) so haidadolla as
greatly to cheek the practice.
Mr. J. CLAY approved of the motion, but thought it
would he better to abolish the tickets altogether, or to limit
them to ono month. 'lwo months' by was :doom the price
of a kit, and consequently SCAMOII knowing that they could
by means of these tickets procure a new kit tor their nest
voyage, were in the habit of pledging the old one. Bence
arse the habits of iniprovidence complained of.
Mr. I. t 1101.'ellEltE was sensible of the evils of the
system. but was afraid that its sudden abolition would be a
great hardship to the seamen.
After a few words front Mr. Moffat, Admirals Bowles and
DUMIAP, and Mr. Duncan,
Mr. ANDERSON withdrew his motion, and the clause
was agreed to, as were the remaining clauses of the bill.
Mr. LABOUCIIEIIE then proposed a new clause, the
effect of which was the same us that of one proposed by
Admiral Bowles—namely, to enable any naval or consular
cater to head an inquiry into the circumstances of any
shipwreck.
sir J. GRAHAM observed, that in the royal navy no
ship woo lost without an inquiry into every circumstance
connected with the ease ; and he thought that, considering
the number of wrecks of metehant vessels which had taken
place of late, and the extent to which insurance was now
carried, it would soon be found necessary to go even fur-
ther than the clause, and establish on inquest on every
merchant vowel that should he; lot. (Hear, hear.)
Admiral Dowses withdrew his clause, and Mr. La.
boneliere'S was unanimously agreed to.
Admiral BOWLES then moved the following clause. to
be inserted after section 23 —"Any naval or consular officer
duly authorised to summon naval courts under the provi-
sions of the Mercantile Maine Bill of 1810 (13 and 14 Vic.,
cap. 93, sec. 82) shall, if be so think lit, summon such court
to be held upon the complaint of two or more of the crew of
any British ship, anything contained in the said act not-
withstanding."
Mr. LABOUCHERE opposed the clause. on the ground
that it would give power to any two or three ill-conditioned
persons, who were generally to be met with in any crew,
very seriously to annoy and to injure the master of their
vessel, besides to cause very serious delays. At present it
was necessary for a third at least of the crew to concur in
the complaint.
After a short discussion the clause was negatived.
Mr. ANDERSON moved the following clause That
OD much of the act 7 and 8 Vie., c. 112, s. 50. so exempts
seamen quitting merchant ships, and entering on board of a
ship of war, from forfeiture of their wages. as in other cues
of breach of their articles of agreement, shall be repealed."
After some discussion.
The committee divided :
For the clause
Against it
Mr. ANDERSON then proposed the following clause:—
'• That such provisions of the General Merchant Seamen's
Act, Bdc 9 ie., e. 112, and of the Mercantile Marine Act,
1030. as compel seamen in the merchant service to obtain
and reduce mister tickets, shall he repealed.- The pre-
sent system was tucks* and exceedingly vexatious.
Mr. LABOUCIIERE considered the subject much too
important to be disposed of in this incidental manner. The
question had already been discussed, and though he would
not say that the present system was not susceptible of im-
provement• he considered that very ill effects would result
from its abolition.

The clause was then withdrawn.
Mr. ANDERSON lastly proposed the following clause : I
" Thnt such provisions at this act, and of the Mercantile
Marine Act, 1550, a. apply to the personal supervision of
shipping masters over the eninigements and discharge of 1
@cameo, shall only be applicable when the services of a
shipping master for that purpose anal be required by tho
master, owner, or any seaman or seamen, concerned in
each engagement or discharge : and nothing contained in
the said sets, or either of than. Phan authorise any shipping
master to interfere in the engagements or dish Lrge of any
seaman or seamen, unit ft. the master or on race. seaman or
seamen, shall request the interference of such shipping
Mater for that purpose."
Mr. LABOUCIIEItE PAW, that thouzh the proposal
omen spat than in the modal guise of a claw, it WA& in

reality to repeal the principal feature of the 31encantile
Marine Bill oflast year.
The clause woe withdrawn, and the house resumed.
CONVEYANCE OF MAILS BY RAILWAYS BILL.
On the motion of Mr. C. LEWIS this bill was read a
seem' time, in order that it might be committed pro forma
for the Introduction of amendmenb.
COUNTY COURTS FURTHER EXTENSION BILL.
The report as to compensations was agreed to.
NEW DEER REMOVAL, &c. BILL.
This bill passed through committee.
GENERAL BOARD OF HEALTH.
Lord SEYMOUR obtained leave to bring in a bill to con-
firm certain provisional orders.
The house rose at 5 o'clock.