Merchant Shipping Act, 1894

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Powers of governors of colonies as to numbers of steerage passengers.

367.—(1) The governor of each of the [¹] Australasian colonies, that is to say, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, Queensland, Tasmania, New Zealand, and any colony hereafter established in Australia, may by proclamation make such rules as he thinks proper for determining the number of steerage passengers to be carried in any emigrant ship proceeding from one of such colonies to any other of those colonies, and for determining on what deck or decks, and subject to what reservations or conditions, steerage passengers may be carried in such ship.

(2) The governor of any British possession may, if he thinks fit, declare by proclamation that ships intended to pass within the Tropics from any port in such possession may convey steerage passengers, being natives of Asia or Africa, after the rate of one for every twelve superficial feet of the passenger deck instead of after the rate specified in the Tenth Schedule [¹] to this Act.

(3) Every such proclamation shall take effect from the issue thereof, or such other day as may be named therein, and shall have effect without as well as within the possession, as if it were enacted in this Part of this Act in substitution as respects the said ships for the Tenth Schedule [²] to this Act.

(4) The provisions of the Tenth Schedule [²] to this Act with respect to the number of superficial feet to be allowed to each steerage passenger shall not apply to any ship proceeding from any port in the island of Ceylon to any port in British India in the Gulf of Manar or Palk’s Straits, and the legislature of Ceylon may regulate by law the number of steerage passengers who may be carried on board such ships.

[¹ The first six named colonies are now States of the Commonwealth of Australia, see 63 & 64 Vict. c. 12. s. 6.]

[¹ The first six named colonies are now States of the Commonwealth of Australia, see 63 & 64 Vict. c. 12. s. 6.]

[² Reference to Board of Trade Regulations under 6 Edw. 7. c. 48. s. 17. substituted by that section; see Stat. Rules and Orders, 1907, No. 739, p. 674.]

[² Reference to Board of Trade Regulations under 6 Edw. 7. c. 48. s. 17. substituted by that section; see Stat. Rules and Orders, 1907, No. 739, p. 674.]