View report page

12
No, (3). The provision of lavatory and bath accommodation for the crew
would be an advance, but not one which sailors either seek or desire, and one
indeed which they are not likely to appreciate.
Moreover, I do not think that it would be either fair and reasonable to
put ship-owners to the great expense of providing such accommodation at the
present time, although it might be advisable to offer some inducement to
ship-owners to provide such conveniences by giving an increased deduction
from the gross tonnage in cases where it was provided and maintained.
No. (1). I am strongly of opinion that the time has arrived for the amendment
of a law passed a quarter of a century ago.
During these twenty-five years many advances have been made in
sanitation on shore, but afloat matters remain as they were.
Section 9 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1867, contains in its nine SubSections
the present law respecting the accommodation for merchant
seamen:—
(1.) Every place in any ship occupied by seamen or apprentices shall
have for every such seaman or apprentice a space of not less than
72 cubic feet, and of not less than 12 superficial feet measured on
the deck or floor of such place.
(2.) The places are to be made available for the proper accommodation
of the men, being securely constructed, properly lighted and
ventilated, protected from weather and sea, and shut off from
effluvium caused by cargo or bilge water.
(3.) The places are not to be deducted from registered tonnage unless
one or more properly constructed privies are provided of such
number and construction as may be approved by a Board of
Trade Surveyor.
(4.) States that no deduction shall be made from tonnage unless on
a beam is permanently marked "Certified to accommodate
"seamen," stating the number it is constructed to
accommodate.
(5.) Enacts that nothing but the personal property of the crew shall be
kept in such places.
(6.) Lays down the course to be pursued by the Surveyor if he finds
the law being broken.
(7.) States that the sum of one shilling per day shall be paid to each
seaman in case of ship's stores being allowed to remain in such
places after complaint has been made to the Master.