164 The Tonnage of Ships. 



I am not sanguine enough to hope that all present will agree 

 with me that displacement is the best basis for tonnage, but as 

 the object of our meeting to-night is to throw light on this 

 tonnage question, any adverse criticism shall be welcomed by 

 me at all events. 



Mr. James TuRprN — I have listened with much pleasure to 

 Mr. Macllwaine's paper recapitulating the different phases 

 through which the tonnage question has passed, and I quite 

 agree with him that the displacement basis on which to charge 

 dues is by far the best. This question has been a subject of 

 controversy for a great many of years. I remember back in 

 1882 a very able paper was read before the Institute of Naval 

 Architects, on which there was a long and interesting discussion, 

 and amongst other suggestions for the measurement of tonnage 

 that were put forward was that advocated by Mr. Macllwaine 

 to-night. With the displacement tonnage as a basis for paying 

 the dues it would be a pity to have any deduction, because that 

 would admit of anomalies creeping in just as in the systems of 

 measurement that have been in existence hitherto. I think 

 that the difference between the light displacement and the load 

 displacement would be a good basis for levying the dues on any 

 vessel from which there should be no deduction whatever, 

 because any little difference that may arise with regard to the 

 different kinds of cargo carried would soon adjust itself in the 

 change of freights. It would simply mean that our Board of 

 Trade friends would have to measure the outside of a ship 

 instead of the inside, which would be much more simple. There 

 would be a great difficulty of course in altering the preseut 

 basis for the payment of dues, because the existing system is 

 adopted by all the maritime countries in Europe, and by the 

 United States, so that it would mean a great revolution. It 

 would, however, be only a question of time, 



Mr. CoNNEL — Mr. Chairman, as you have asked me to speak, 

 I presume that I will require to say something in answer to 

 your call ; I did not come here to-night with the view of 

 criticising Mr. Macliwaine's paper. I think that one could not 



