, 1870-12-09

the 3rd section of this 5, being only an altera-
ton in the wording, we recommend the same
for adoption.
nd 5. The stipulation in the 2nd section
of this 5 provides, that Ships belonging TO Dan
ish subjects not residing in the Danish Westin-
da Islands cannot be placed on the Danish
Westlndia Register except with special permits
sion, and the Motives to the same 5 state, that
regard to the Import-Duty levied in the Mother
country has given rise to this enactment. The
enactment is a breach of the general rule con-
tanned in l and according to the Motives it
has been called forth only in the interest of
the Mothercountry, in order to secure the I'm
pOrt-Duty on vessels the property of Danish
subjects residing elsewhere than the Danish
Westindia Islands who desire them placed under
Danish colours. The Committee would recon-
mend tho following wording:
"Ships belonging to Danish subjects resid-
ing elsewhere than the Danish Westindia Is
lands cannot be placed on the Danish West
india Register except with special pt emission
to that effect granted by the Superior Au-
thOrity in the Westindies and by the Board
OF Customs in the Mothercountry."
Our motives to this proposal are as follows it
having been considered necessary, in consider
alton of the Moihercountry, to infringe on the
general rule in S !, by rendering the entry of
the Ships in question in the Danish Westindia
Ship-Register dependent on a special permission
probably from the Board of Customs in Den
mark-it would be just, in consideration of these
Islands, also to make the entry conditional of a
permission Of the Superior Authority here. 1t
IS especially the traffic between the Islands
which calls for this measure, because the traffic
when carried on in vessels belonging to these
Islands, according to the Law of 3Oth June
1850 relative to Trade and Shipping in st.
CroiX, ) ;, is exempted from the payment of
the Anchorage, a privilege which will also be
bestowed on the vessels owned by Danish sub
jects residing beyond the Danish Westindia Is
lands, when they are entered on our Ship-Re-
glSter, which may become detrimental to the
vessels belonging to resident owners. Should
our proposed alteration be adopted in framing
the 5, the Superior Authority will be enabled
to guard against vessels owned by Danish sub
jects residing beyond the Islands enjoying the
privilege for their vessels, except under such
circumstances where the vessels of resident
owners do not satisfy the demands made on the
traffic between the Islands.
0d S. lO-Il. At the 2nd discussion in the
Colonial Council for St. Thomas and St. John
an alteration in these S. has been adopted to
this effect, that the local Registrar shall forward
the statement with respect to registration and
measurement direct to the Chief Registrar in
Copenhagen-consequently not through Gov
eminent and the respective Ministry-and the
said local Registrar himself-consequently not
the Government-issue the provisional certif-
cate, furnish the vessel with Registry-letters
and receive direct from the Chief Registrar the
final certificate of Registry and Nationality.
AS this procedure is at variance with all
other administrative relations, and as no con-
~siderably greater prOmptness in the correspond.
ence will be attained by this measure, we can
not recommend this amendment.