Remedies proposed.
Average price, then, of passages.
Although various plans were suggested to the
committee, with a view of putting an end to the
evils complained of, it is only necessary to refer
to that part of the question which affects the actual
shipping and conveyance of the passenger to his
destination. It was generally agreed that the
existing regulations were not stringent enough, the
great object of the previous Acts having been to
give as much security as possible to the passengers;
but it was found impossible to obtain this without
increasing the price of passage, which had fallen
from 5l. in 1842 to 3l. 10s. in 1851, from Liverpool
to New York, and about 5s. less to Quebec,
including provisions. It is further to be noted
that, though in 1842 the charge was higher, there
was less given for it, as the Shipowners supplied
only two-thirds of the amount of provisions provided
at the latter period. While the law, in fact,
had obliged the Shipowner to supply a larger quantity
of provisions, restrictions as to the extent of the
provisions added, together with a superior dietary
scale, the money price of the passage had been materially
diminished.
Emigration officer. In 1864, the inspection of passenger ships and provisions was carried on at Liverpool, for example, by an Emigration officer, and two assistants who were lieutenants in the Royal Navy. The Emigration officer had to satisfy himself of the seaworthiness of every ship which came under the Act; to see that no greater number of passengers were carried than her measured space would allow according to law; that her boats were sufficient, and that she had the necessary stock of provisions and
