the proceedings for the recovery of wages were made still more summary, so that, under our present maritime laws, seamen have special remedies for the recovery of their wages, together with a lien on the ship not granted to any other class of the community. Beyond the advantages of savings-banks and money-order offices, specially for their use, a system has been established, through the medium of the shipping offices and the consulates abroad, under which, seamen, when paid off, can remit their wages without expense to their relatives at any port in the United Kingdom.[1]
Agitation about "unseaworthy ships," 1855.
Further provisions for the benefit of seamen,
In 1855, a question arose very similar to that
which has recently arisen regarding "unseaworthy
ships," as to whether seamen could be compelled to
go to sea in them. The opinion of the law-officers
of the Crown taken by the Board of Trade was
given in favour of the seaman's right to refuse to
sail in such vessels, and this opinion, having been
sent to the magistrates at the seaports, has ever since
been acted on, though it has been frequently abused
by unprincipled seamen, who have alleged unseaworthiness
as an excuse for being relieved from their
engagements, more especially in cases where they
have received a payment of wages in advance, or
where they have thought they could improve their
position. Nor did the efforts of the Board of Trade,
the permanent officers of which have been frequently
charged with neglecting the interests of seamen, here
end. In 1864, that Board, aware of the difficulty
seamen accused of desertion might have in proving
unseaworthiness, recommended the Home Office to
- ↑ See ante, page 350, note.
