The Tonnage of Ships. 169 



basis — the actual cubic contents of the vessel. Another point 

 suggested itself to me ; — would not the basis of displacement as 

 put forward by Mr. VTacIlwaine tend to the ingenuity of ship- 

 owners and shipbuilders being brought to bear to build ships on 

 as light scantling as possible, as near the aluminium type which 

 Mr. Jones has mentioned ? I don't know whether that point 

 is really a proper one, but it seems to me that this might occur 

 to those who wish to avoid paying dues or to pay as small dues 

 as possible. 



Mr. MacIlwaine in replying, said — I will begin by replying 

 to the last speaker, Mr. Heyn (the chairman), as his remarks 

 are perhaps the most damaging to my proposal to levy dues 

 on a varying percentage of each ship's displacement, but still I 

 think displacement is the fairest basis of comparison. Mr. 

 Heyn says truly, shipowners wish to be left alone. That is 

 exactly what I believe will not be the case. Since 1836, the 

 system of taking internal capacity as a basis for measurement 

 has been in existence, and it has been so constantly altered by 

 subsequent Acts that shipowners have never been let alone for 

 any considerable time, and in my opinion never will be till a 

 substitute for internal capacity is found, and that I believe to 

 be displacement. Mr. Heyn says the present system is fairly 

 accurate. I think a reference to Lloyds' Register will show 

 that my statement, viz. : — '* A very great number of startling 

 anomalies exist," better describes the state of the case. The 

 next objection Mr. Heyn makes is really the most important,, 

 viz., that a displacement basis for tonnage would lead to 

 building vessels of too light scantlings. This is no doubt true,, 

 but such a tendency would certainly be corrected by the 

 Committee of Lloyds' Registry. I am very glad to have such 

 a high authority as Mr. Turpin on ray side. He says he would 

 take displacement as a basis, and approves of it ; but I think 

 he is wrong in saying he would take it without deductions, and,, 

 with all due deference, I think Mr. Turpin has not fully con- 

 sidered that point, or he would not have recommended dis- 

 placement pure and simple. I don't think it comes within my 



