HC Deb 05 February 1913 vol 47 cc2378-9

(1) If a pilot is aggrieved by the suspension or revocation by the pilotage authority of his licence, or by the refusal or failure of the pilotage authority to renew his licence, or by the refusal or failure of the pilotage authority who have obtained possession of his licence to return it to him, or by the imposition upon him by the pilotage authority of a fine exceeding two pounds, he may either appeal to a judge of county courts having jurisdiction within the port for which the pilot is licensed, or to a metropolitan police magistrate or stipendiary magistrate having jurisdiction within that port.

(2) For the purpose of hearing the appeal, the judge or magistrate shall sit with an assessor of nautical and pilotage experience selected and summoned by the judge or magistrate.

(3) Objection may be taken to any person proposed to be summoned as an assessor, either personally or in respect of his qualification, and by either party to the appeal.

(4) The judge or magistrate may confirm or reverse the suspension or revocation of the licence, or make such order in the case as may seem just, and his decision shall be final, unless special leave to appeal from the same to the High Court on a question of law or a question of mixed law and fact is given by the judge or magistrate, or by the High Court, and in such case the decision of the High Court shall be final.

(5) The costs incurred by a pilotage authority under this section shall be payable out of any fund applicable to the general expenses of the pilotage authority.

(6) Rules with respect to the procedure under this section (including costs and the remuneration of assessors) may be made, as respects county court judges, by the authority having power to make rules of practice under the County Courts Act, 1888, and as respects metropolitan police and stipendiary magistrates by a Secretary of State, but in either case with the concurrence of the Treasury as to fees.

(7) In Scotland the appeal under this section shall be to the sheriff having jurisdiction at the port where the decision is given, and may be heard by the sheriff sitting with an assessor as provided in this section, and rules may be made by the Court of Session by Acts of sederunt with respect to the procedure in case of those appeals in Scotland (including costs and the remuneration of assessors), subject to the concurrence of the Treasury as to fees.

(8) In the application of this section to Ireland—

  1. (a) The expression "judge of county courts" and "judge" shall respectively mean a county court judge and chairman of quarter sessions, and include recorder;
  2. (b) The expressions "stipendiary magistrate" and "magistrate" shall respectively mean a magistrate appointed under the Constabulary (Ireland) Act, 1836;
  3. (c) Rules with respect to the procedure in case of appeals under this section (including costs and the remuneration of assessors) may from time to time be made, as respects county court judges and chairmen of quarter sessions, by the authority having power to make rules and orders for regulating the practice under the County Officers and Courts (Ireland) Act, 1877, and as respects stipendiary magistrates, by the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in Council, but in either case with the concurrence of the Treasury as to fees.

Amendment made: At the end of Subsection (4) insert the words "In the application of this Sub-section to Scotland references to the Court of Sessions shall be substituted for references to the High Court."—[Mr. Buxton.]