The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-06-06 00:00:00

THE MERCHANT SHIPPING BILL.

WE took the opportunity, a short time since, of
commenting on some of the most serious objections
to the provisions in the New Merchant Shipping
Bill, particularly those which relate to the allowance
for engine-room in steam-ships, and the responsi-
bility of shipowners for damage by accident to pas-
sengers.
In discussing the several clauses of this
important measure, great service to the shipping
interest has been rendered by the Liverpool Steam-
Ship Association, and on Thursday Mr. ROBERT
LAMONT, of this town, and Mr. Tuomsox, the

efficient Secretary to the Association, had an inter-
view with Mr. CARDWELL on the subject of the
objections to the bill. These have been ably-
stated in a pamphlet by the Secretary, from which
we give the following extract, referring to the
important subject of the accommodation for the
crew being included in the registered tonnage.
In section 20 of the bill it is proposed that a break

or poop, or any other closed-in space available for
cargo, or for the berthing of passengers or crew
shall be measured and included in the register
tonnage. Upon which the writer says :
"It is considered that the accommodation for the crew
whether in houses on deck or in a forecastle, should not
be included in the register tonnage. As the clause stands,
however, all erections, except perhaps galleys, icehouses,
and watemlosets, would be measured, as being considered
available, under some circumstances, for cargo, or for the
berthing of the passengers or crew, although actually
never used for these purposes. In this way, erections for
the shelter of deck passengers, now becoming common in
coasting steamers, and by which an immense addition is
made to their comfort, will be added to the tonnage, and,
in addition to the cost of erection, become subject to dues.
A serious, if not insurmountable, bar will thus be placed
to the expressed wishes of the government that shelter
should be afforded, and the decks will either be left clear,
and exposed to the weather, or the rate of passage money
must be raised to defray the additional expense. In
either way the passengers will suffer—in person or in
pocket. At least only such erections as are fitted up with
berths, or are constructed and appropriated for cargo,
should be measured, and the best means of adding to the
comfort and securing the safety of passengers will be to
leave the steam-ship owner with full power to construct '
such erections as he thinks proper for the shelter, safety,
and comfort of his passengers. To do otherwise will be
to induce temporary, unfixed, and insufficient shelter, and
to expose the passengers to dangers and discomforts,
which the steam-ship owners have every wish and desire
to'avert and avoid." •

The bill is now before the House of Commons

in committee ; but the further consideration has
been postponed until after the recess, and, in con-
sequence of the numerous alterations introduced
since the bill was printed, it is ordered to be re-
printed, and recommitted on Tuesday, the 20th of
June.

In addition to the alterations proposed by Mr.
HOIISFALL, with reference to the restoration of the
compulsory apprenticeship system, our Repre-
sentative has also given notice of the following :
"In committee on Merchant Shipping Bill, to move
the following amendments

"Page 86, clause 230, leave out all the words after `con-
ducted,' in line 13, to the word 'the' in line 16, and insert
`under the provisions contained in the eighth part of this
act.'

"I'age 147, clause 348, leave out magistrate' in line 11,
and insert ' Local Marine Board, the stipendiary magis-
trate beiug present thereat?,

"Clatiae.4.l9, leave out 'magistrate' in line 17, and
insert 'Local Marine Board, including such stipendiary
magistrate.' "

OPENING OF ST. GEORGE'S HALL