§ Bill, as amended, considered.
§ Clause 16 (Power to levy rates).
§ ADMIRAL FIELD (Sussex, Eastbourne), in moving an Amendment on the clause, said, that at present it laid down that the Admiralty should not levy rates on any vessel or boat forced to use the harbour as a refuge by "stress of weather." That made a limitation which was most undesirable. Stress of weather was only 1652 one of many causes which would induce ships to seek a harbour of refuge. They had to seek a harbour of refuge when leaking heavily; or when there was a mutiny amongst the crew; or from the loss of a spar; or by any accident to the machinery. It was not to be endured, when they were founding a new harbour of refuge on that coast, that there should be the slightest impediment to such vessels seeking refuge in it. Therefore, he proposed to add, after "stress of weather," the words "or other cause."
§ Amendment proposed, in page 6, line 11, after the word "weather," to add the words "or other cause."—(Admiral Field.)
§ Question proposed, "That those words be there added."
§ THE CIVIL LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. E. W. DUFF) (Banffshire)said, he would accept the Amendment, which he thought would be an improvement to the Bill.
§ Question put, and agreed to.
§ Words added.
§ Clause, as amended, agreed to.
§ Bill read the third time, and passed.