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XI.-Conclusion.

30. To sum up, the policy which has been adopted in order to enforce the blockade of Germany may be described as follows:-

(1.) German exports to oversea countries have been almost entirely stopped. Such exceptions as have been made are in cases where a refusal to allow the export of the goods would hurt the neutral concerned without inflicting any injury upon Germany.

(2.) All shipments to neutral countries adjacent to Germany are carefully scrutinised with a view to the detection of a concealed enemy destination. Wherever there is reasonable ground for suspecting such destination, the goods are placed in the Prize Court. Doubtful consignments are detained until satisfactory. guarantees are produced.

(3.) Under agreements in force with bodies of representative merchants in several neutral countries adjacent to Germany, stringent guarantees are exacted from importers, and so far as possible all trade between the neutral country and Germany, whether arising overseas or in the neutral country itself, is restricted.

(4.) By agreements with shipping lines and by a vigorous use of the power to refuse bunker coal, a large proportion of the neutral mercantile marine which carries on trade with Scandinavia and Holland has been induced to agree to conditions designed to prevent goods carried in these ships from reaching the enemy.

(5.) Every effort is being made to introduce a system of rationing which will ensure that the neutral countries concerned only import such quantities of the articles specified as are normally imported for their own consumption.

RULES OF COURT made under Article 119 of "The China Order in Council, 1904, "'* and under Article 4 of "The China (Companies) Order in Council, 1915."† -Shanghai, February 1, 1916.

The following Rules of Court, made by the Judge and hereby declared with the approval of the Minister to be urgent, are published for general information.

H. W. DE SAUSMAREZ, Judge.

Shanghai, February 1, 1916.

CHINA (COMPANIES) RULES OF COURT, 1916.

[No 1 OF 1916.]

Jurisdiction of Provincial Courts.

1. THE Provincial Courts of Canton, Hankow, Harbin, and Tien-tsin shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine all charges in respect of offences made punishable by fine by the Life Insurance Companies Ordinance as defined by "The China (Companies) Order in Council, 1915."

All such charges shall be heard and determined by them summarily under Article 15 (5) of "The China (Companies) Order in Council, 1915."

Service of Process.

2. The following provision is added to Rule 113 of "The China Rules of Court, 1905 ':

Notwithstanding, and in addition to such statutory provision, service of a summons or other process may be made upon a British Company carrying on business in China by serving the same on the manager or other chief local representative in China registered in the Consular Register of Companies established under "The China (Amendment) Order in Council, 1913."8

Provided that, where service has been effected under this rule, the Court may, if it thinks fit, stay all proceedings on being satisfied that the action can more conveniently be tried in a Court in His Majesty's dominions.

* Vol. XCVII, page 150.
Vol. XCVIII, page 212.

↑ Vol. CIX, page 363.

§ Vol. CVI, page 523.

Short Title.

3. These Rules may be cited as "The China (Companies) Rules of Court, 1916," and may be cited with "The China Rules of Court, 1905 to 1913," as "The China Rules of Court, 1905 to 1916."

H. W. DE SAUSMAREZ,
His Britannic Majesty's Judge.

Shanghai, January 19, 1916.

RULES OF COURT and Table of Fees framed for His Majesty's Courts in Abyssinia under "The Abyssinia Order in Council, 1913."-Adis Ababa, February 9, 1916.

[No. 1 of 1916.]

PART I.-General.

1. THE interpretations contained in article 3 of the Principal Order shall apply to these Rules, with the following additions:

"Principal Order" means "The Abyssinia Order in Council,

1913.

"Dollar" means the dollar current in Abyssinia.

"Piastre" means the subdivision of the dollar current in the locality of the particular Court.

"Pleader" means a person admitted to practise as pleader in one of the High Courts in India.

"Legal practitioner" includes pleader.

2. The Rules in this Part apply to all proceedings, whether civil or criminal.

3. Summonses, warrants, orders, and other documents issuing from the Court shall be sealed with the seal of the Court.

4. The Anglo-Indian Law of Procedure applicable for the time being by the Courts in India shall, so far as circumstances admit, and with such additions, alterations, and adaptations as may be necessary having regard to the provisions of the Principal Order and to local conditions, be applied by the Court unless overridden by these or by any subsequent Rules of Court made under the Principal Order.

Assessors.

5. All male persons subject to His Majesty's jurisdiction between the ages of 21 and 60 shall be liable to serve as

assessors.

* Vol. CVI, page 598.

6. The Court shall, in the month of January, prepare an annual list of persons liable to serve as assessors, being fit and proper persons to act as such.

7. Copies of such list shall be exhibited outside the Court, together with a notice stating that objections to the list will be heard and determined at a given time.

8. The Court shall sit at the time and place mentioned in the notice and shall revise the list as follows:

(a.) It shall hear and determine the objections of persons whose names appear in the list.

(b.) It shall erase the name of any person not suitable to serve or who may establish his right to any exemption.

(c.) It shall insert the name of any person omitted from the list whom it may deem qualified for such service.

Any order of the Court shall be final, and any exemption not claimed shall be deemed to be waived until the next list is prepared.

The list so revised shall be in force until the 1st day of February in the succeeding year.

9. The names of the persons to be summoned shall be drawn by lot in open Court from the list excluding those, if possible, who have served within six months.

The Court shall then issue a summons to all those persons whose names have been drawn, requiring their attendance at a time and place therein specified.

Legal Practitioners.

10. The following persons may be admitted to practise before any Court established under the Principal Order :

(a.) Members of the bar of England, Scotland, or Ireland; (b.) Solicitors of the Supreme Court in England or Ireland, writers to the Signet and solicitors in the Supreme Courts in Scotland;

(c.) Pleaders.

11. Any barrister, solicitor, or pleader on producing to the Court satisfactory proofs of his qualification and such testimonials as to character as shall be deemed sufficient, and upon payment of the prescribed fee, and upon signing the roll of the Court, shall be admitted to practise so long as he takes out an annual certificate and is not struck off the roll.

12. Barristers, solicitors, and pleaders will take precedence in the order named, and as between themselves, according to the date of their signing the roll of the Court, provided always that any pleader representing His Majesty shall take precedence of all other pleaders.

13. The Court may at its discretion admit other persons of good character and of sufficient ability to practise before the Court, but such shall only be licensed to practise during the pleasure of the Court.

14. The Court may after enquiry suspend or dismiss any pleader for any of the following causes :

(a.) If he takes instructions in any case except from the party on whose behalf he is retained or from some person who is the recognised agent of such party, or from some servant, relation, or friend authorised by the party to give such instructions;

(b.) If he is guilty of fraudulent or improper conduct in the discharge of his professional duty or misleads or allows the Court to be misled so that the Court makes a wrong or improper order;

(c.) If he tenders, gives, or consents to the retention out of any fee of any gratification for procuring or having procured the employment in any legal business of himself or any other pleader.

(d.) If he procures or attempts to procure the employment of himself as pleader through any person to whom any remuneration for such employment has been given or agreed to be so given.

(e.) If he is otherwise guilty of unprofessional conduct.

15. The Court may publish, after due enquiry, lists of persons proved to its satisfaction habitually to act as touts, and may exclude them from the precincts of the Court.

16. No agreement between a pleader and the party retaining him shall be valid unless it is in writing and signed by such party.

When a suit is brought to enforce such agreement, if the agreement is not proved to be fair and reasonable, the Court may reduce the amount payable or cancel the agreement.

A provision in such agreement that the pleader shall not be liable for negligence, or that he shall be relieved from his responsibility as a pleader, shall be wholly void.

17. Every pleader will be granted a certificate to practise up to the 31st December next following the date of his admission, and such certificate shall be renewed yearly. The sum of 10 dollars shall be paid for each certificate. No pleader shall practise till he has taken out such certificate.

PART II-Criminal Procedure.

18. In any trial the Court may appoint a legal practitioner to conduct the prosecution or some other suitable person if no legal practitioner be available. The cost of such prosecution shall be borne by the Crown unless otherwise ordered by the Court.

PART III.--Civil Procedure.

Office Rules.

19. Application for copies of any proceedings must be made. to the Court.

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