PARLIAMENTARY INTELLIGENCE.

New Zealand Colonist and Port Nicholson Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 44, 30 December 1842, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY INTELLIGENCE.

HOUSE OF COMMONS. Captain Fitzroy rose to move for leave to bring in “ a bill to require and regulate tW examination of all persons who wish to become masters or chief mates of merchant vessels.” He proposed that a board of examiners should be established in the principal ports of England, Scotland, and Ireland. In London the board should consist of four examiners, at other ports of three; he al.ro proposed that there should be a principal examiner and secretary: the principal examiner to have the chief executive management of the whole system, assisted by the corporation of the Trinity House, and controlled by the Board of Trade. The examiners at the different Boards were all, without exception, to be practical seamen, chosen by the managing shipowners of each district, the whole of the coast being divided into a certain number of districts. The examiners were to be men who had commanded ships in, the merchant service for a certain number of years —one in the southern hemisphere and distant parts of the world; another who had been engaged chiefly in the coasting trade; and the third, who had been employed chiefly in steam-ves-sels. It was proposed that the expense of these Boards should be defrayed by moderate fees, to be payed by each officer examined on

receiving his certificate of qualification: masters were to pay £3 for a certificate to entitle? them to go to any part of the world; masters of coasting vessels to pay £2 ; mates £1 TOs. and mates ,of coasters £l. These fees could not be considered exorbitant, when it is recollected that pilots on The Thames and on the coast paid three guineas, not for their lifetime,, but annually; and in parts of the kingdom! from two guineas to three. It was not proposed to interfere, by this bill* With officers who are now employed six months previous to the passing of the bill, supposing it should become law. All that would be required of them would be to furnish themselves with certificates of exemption, for which they would .pay 10s„ and mates only ss. He moved for leave to bring in this bilb not with the intention of pressing it through the legislature during the present season, but for the purpose of having it printed and circulated through the country. Mr. A. Chapman seconded the Motion, and after a few observations from Mr. Gladstone, Sir E. T. Troubridge, Mr. Hume, and Sir G.. Cockburn, the motion was agreed to.