No. 432/1941:

MERCHANT SHIPPING ACT, 1906 (VARIATION OF SEAMEN'S PROVISIONS) ORDER, 1941.

MERCHANT SHIPPING ACT, 1906 (VARIATION OF SEAMEN'S PROVISIONS) ORDER, 1941.

WHEREAS it is enacted by sub-section (1) of section 25 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1906, that the master of every ship for which an agreement with the crew is required under the Merchant Shipping Acts shall furnish provisions to every member of the crew (who does not furnish his own provisions) in accordance with the scale set out in the First Schedule to the said Act, and it is enacted by sub-section (4) of the said section 25 (as adapted by or under subsequent enactments) that the Government may by order vary or add to the First Schedule to the said Act :

NOW, THEREFORE, the Government, in exercise of the powers conferred on them by sub-section (4) of section 25 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1906, as adapted by or under subsequent enactments, and of every and any other power them in this behalf enabling, hereby order as follows, that is to say :—

1. This Order may be cited as the Merchant Shipping Act, 1906 (Variation of Seamen's Provisions) Order, 1941.

2. The Interpretation Act, 1937 (No. 38 of 1937), applies to this Order.

3. Section 25 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1906 shall be construed and have effect as if for the First Schedule to the said Act there were substituted the following, that is to say :—

FIRST SCHEDULE.

SCALE OF PROVISIONS.

Note 1.—The limitation on the use of fresh fish, eggs and smoked ham or bacon as equivalents for fresh meat means that the maximum amount which can be deducted from the weekly ration of fresh meat, in respect of these equivalents, is 2 lb. 3 ozs.

Note 2.—The amounts of sugar and butter shown in the above scale are exclusive of the amounts used in the preparation of meals.

Conditions and Exceptions in Applying Scale.

1. General.—The issue of the provisions referred to in the above scale shall be reasonably distributed throughout the week; and in the case of water, soft bread, meat and potatoes the issue shall be approximately equal each day.

2. Bread.—The issue of soft bread under the scale shall not be required :—

(a) in a ship of less than 1,000 tons gross registered tonnage; or

(b) if rough weather or illness, or absence of cook, or force majeure renders the making of bread impracticable;

but where soft bread is not issued, an equivalent amount of biscuit stored in sealed tins shall be issued instead.

3. Meat.—The term "meat" includes "pork". The weight of fresh meat is the weight, including fat, and bone, before preparation for cooking.

When fresh meat is not available, salt or preserved meat may be substituted in the proportion of 2/3 lb. of salt meat or ½ lb. of preserved meat for 1 lb. of fresh meat.

Fresh offal and fresh sausage count as the equivalent of fresh meat. Other sausage counts as preserved meat.

Smoked ham or bacon should, when procurable at reasonable cost, be supplied to the extent of 6 ozs. weekly but not exceeding 8 ozs. and count as preserved meat.

Note.—In ships with no refrigerator it is undesirable that reliance should be placed on fresh meat keeping in good condition for more than 15 days from the date on which it is taken on board.

4. Fish.—The weight of fresh fish is the gross weight before preparation for cooking.

Fresh fish up to an amount not exceeding 1 ½ lbs. per week may be substituted for fresh meat and shall be regarded as equivalent to two-thirds of its weight of fresh meat.

In any week in which less than 8 ozs. of fresh fish is issued there shall be issued fish of a fatty type, such as kippers or tinned salmon, herrings, pilchards or sardines, the weight of which shall be one-half the amount by which the fresh fish issued is less than 8 ozs. Dried fish or tinned salmon, herrings, pilchards or sardines may be substituted for fresh fish in the proportion of 1 ½ ozs. of dried fish or 1 oz. of tinned fish to 2 ozs. of fresh fish.

5. Eggs.—Not less than four eggs, fresh or preserved in shell, shall be issued during the first fortnight of any voyage starting from a port within home trade limits, and two eggs for each week thereafter should be issued, if obtainable at a reasonable price, and if there are facilities for keeping them. Each egg so issued shall be regarded as the equivalent of 1 ½ ozs. of fresh meat under the scale. Eggs in excess of these may be issued, but shall not count against the scale.

6. Potatoes.—Fresh potatoes (when procurable in a sound condition) must be issued for at least the first eight weeks of the voyage in the case of every ship leaving a port within the home trade limits, at any time between the last day of September and the first day of May, and at any other time when they can be procured at a reasonable cost.

When fresh potatoes are not so issued, an equal amount of rice, yams, sweet potatoes, or vegetables preserved in tins, or an equivalent amount of dried or compressed potatoes or dried or compressed vegetables in the proportion of 1 lb. to 6 lbs. of fresh potatoes, or fresh bread in the proportion of 1 lb. of bread to 1 lb. of fresh potatoes, must be issued in their place.

7. Dried Milk.—Dried milk may only be issued in lieu of condensed milk where the conditions on board are such as enable it to be kept in good condition, in a cool, dry place, for the period during which it may be required.

8. Vegetables.—Fresh vegetables should be supplied as often as possible when they can be procured at a reasonable cost and are not likely to be injurious to health.

On each day when ½ lb. of fresh vegetables (or vegetables preserved in tins) is supplied, these are to be regarded for purposes of the scale as equivalent to one day's supply of dried or compressed vegetables and of green peas, haricot or butter beans.

9. Dried Fruits.—Dried fruits issued under the above scale must be raisins, sultanas, currants, figs, prunes, apples, pears, peaches or apricots.

10. Onions.—The onions to be issued under the above scale must be fresh, store or dried onions when in season; and when fresh, store or dried onions are not in season, an equal amount of onions or other vegetables preserved in tins, or an equivalent amount of dried or compressed onions or other vegetables in the proportion of 1 oz. to ½ lb. of fresh onions must be issued.

11. The stokehold hands are to receive sufficient oatmeal and one quart of water extra daily while under steam.

Note.—In any case where tinned provisions are issued, the weight thereof shall be calculated exclusive of the container.

SUBSTITUTES AND EQUIVALENTS—NOT TO BE USED WITHOUT REASONABLE CAUSE.

Given under the Official Seal of the Government,

this 5th day of November, 1941.

ÉAMON DE VALÉRA,

Taoiseach.