ment ship in the service of the Ministry is entrusted by the Ministry shall be registered as provided by Section 59 (2) of the Principal Act. 7. Government ships in the service of the Ministry registered in pursuance of the provisions of this Order in Council are hereby excluded from the category of ships belonging to His Majesty within the meaning of Sections 557 to 564 of the Principal Act. 8. Where any section of the Merchant Shipping Acts, which, by virtue of "The Merchant Shipping Act, 1906,' and this Order in Council, is applicable to Government ships in the service of the Ministry, imposes any duty or liability or confers any right or power upon or contemplates any act being performed by the owner of a ship, such duty, liability, right or power shall, subject always to the other provisions of this Order in Council, be carried out, borne, or exercised by the Ministry on behalf of His Majesty. 9. In this Order in Council the term Merchant Shipping Acts shall mean and include any of the Merchant Shipping Acts any provision of which is by virtue of "The Merchant Shipping Act, 1906," and this Order, applicable to Government ships. 66 10. Section 1 and Sections 8 to 12 of The Merchant Shipping Act, 1894,"* shall not apply to Government ships in the service of the Ministry registered in pursuance of the provisions of this Order in Council. Provided always that no provision of the Merchant Shipping Acts which, according to a reasonable construction, would not apply in the case of Government ships in the service of the Ministry shall be deemed to apply to such ships by reason only that its application is not hereby expressly excluded. ALMERIC FITZROY. BRITISH ORDER IN COUNCIL making Regulations regarding the Registration of Government Ships in the service of the Fishery Board for Scotland.-London, February 9, 1920.† At the Court at Buckingham Palace, the 9th day of February, 1920. PRESENT: THE KING'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY IN COUNCIL. WHEREAS by Section 80 of "The Merchant Shipping Act, 1906," power is given to His Majesty, by Order in Council, Vol. LXXXVI, page 633. "London Gazette," February 10, 1920. Vol. XCIX, page 14. to make Regulations as to the manner in which Government ships may be registered as British ships under the Merchant Shipping Acts; And whereas by the said section it is provided that those Acts shall, subject to any exceptions or modifications which may be made by Order in Council, either generally or as respects any special class of such ships, apply to such ships when registered in accordance with such Regulations; Now, therefore, His Majesty, by virtue of the Powers in this behalf by the said Act, or otherwise, in him vested, is pleased, by and with the advice of his Privy Council, to order, and it is hereby ordered: That the following Regulations shall have effect as regards any Government ships in the service of the Fishery Board for Scotland, hereinafter referred to as the Board: 1. An application for registry of a Government ship in the service of the Board shall be made in writing under the hand of the Secretary to the Board. Such application shall contain the following particulars:— (1.) A statement of the name and description of the ship. (2.) A statement of the time when, and place where, the ship was built; or, if the ship was foreign built and the time and place of building are unknown, a statement to that effect, and of her foreign name. (3.) A statement of the nature of the title to the said ship, whether by original construction by or for the Board, or by purchase, capture, condemnation, or otherwise, and a list of the documents of title, if any, in case she was not originally constructed by or for the Board. (4.) A statement of the name of the master. 2. The Registrar, on receiving such application in respect of a Government ship in the service of the Board shall: (1.) Enter the ship in the Register Book as belonging to His Majesty, represented by the Fishery Board for Scotland, and shall also enter therein : (2.) The name of the port to which she belongs; (3.) The particulars stated in the application for registration; (4.) The details comprised in the Surveyor's certificate. 3. On the registry of a Government ship in the service of the Board the Registrar shall retain in his possession the Surveyor's certificate and the application for registry, and any documents of title mentioned in such application. 4. Upon the transfer of a registered Government ship in the service of the Board by Bill of Sale the Board shall be the transferors, and the Bill of Sale shall be in Form A in the proper form prescribed under the Principal Act, omitting the covenant therein contained. Any such Bill of Sale shall be signed by the Secretary to the Board on behalf of the Board. 5. The application for a Certificate of Sale referred to in Sections 39 to 42 and Sections 44 to 46 of the Principal Act, may be made in respect of a Government ship in the service of the Board by the Secretary to the Board on their behalf. 6. The person to whom the management of any Government ship in the service of the Board is entrusted by the Board shall be registered as provided by Section 59 (2) of the Principal Act. 7. Government ships in the service of the Board registered in pursuance of the provisions of this Order in Council are hereby excluded from the category of ships belonging to His Majesty within the meaning of Sections 557 to 564 of the Principal Act. 8. Where any section of the Merchant Shipping Acts, which, by virtue of "The Merchant Shipping Act, 1906, ' and this Order in Council, is applicable to Government ships in the service of the Board, imposes any duty or liability or confers any right or power upon or contemplates any act being performed by the owner of a ship, such duty, liability, right or power shall, subject always to the other provisions of this Order in Council, be carried out, borne, or exercised by the Board on behalf of His Majesty. 9. In this Order in Council the term Merchant Shipping Acts shall mean and include any of the Merchant Shipping Acts any provision of which is by virtue of "The Merchant Shipping Act, 1906," and this Order, applicable to Government ships. 10. Section 1 and Sections 8 to 12 of "The Merchant Shipping Act, 1894,"* shall not apply to Government ships in the service of the Board registered in pursuance of the provisions of this Order in Council. Provided always that no provision of the Merchant Shipping Acts which, according to a reasonable construction, would not apply in the case of Government ships in the service of the Board shall be deemed to apply to such ships by reason only that its application is not hereby expressly excluded. ALMERIC FITZROY. SPEECH of the King on the Opening of the British My Lords and Members of the House of Commons, I AM thankful that since I last addressed you the final ratifications of the Peace Treaty with Germany have been exchanged in Paris, and that the state of war with that country which has lasted for more than five years has been finally brought to an end. I have accordingly despatched to Berlin a representative to act as Chargé d'Affaires at that capital, and I am about to receive a German representative at my Court of St. James. I intend shortly to accord my ratification to the Treaties for Peace which have been signed with Austria and Bulgaria, and proposals will be laid before you for giving effect to these Treaties. I trust that it will be possible to conclude peace both with Hungary and Turkey at an early date. The negotiations concerning the Turkish peace which have already commenced are being pressed forward with all possible speed. A number of meetings between my Ministers and representatives of the Great Associated Powers have recently taken place in London and Paris and have confirmed the excellent relations which exist with all our Allies. I earnestly trust that, as the result of these meetings, a settlement of the long-continued Adriatic dispute will shortly be reached. In order, however, to assure the full blessings of peace and prosperity to Europe, it is essential that not only peace but normal conditions of economic life should be restored in Eastern Europe and in Russia. So long as these vast regions withhold their full contribution to the stock of commodities available for general consumption, the cost of living can hardly be reduced nor general prosperity restored to the world. I have had great pleasure in assenting to the proposal that the Prince of Wales should visit Australia and New Zealand and should take the opportunity on his return voyage of seeing some of my West Indian possessions. He will, I feel confident, receive a cordial welcome everywhere both from old comrades in arms and from all classes of the community. Members of the House of Commons, The estimates for the service in the coming year will be laid before you in due course. My Lords and Members of the House of Commons, The war has shaken to its foundations the economy of the national life, and the transition from war to peace has presented problems of unprecedented difficulty. I believe that our country and the Empire are making rapid strides towards stability and prosperity. The price of foodstuffs and other necessary commodities is causing anxiety to all the peoples of the world, but I am glad to say that prices in these islands are appreciably lower than they are elsewhere. This fact and the condition of trade with the outside world, especially of the export trade, serve to show that my people are proving no less successful in dealing with the troubles which war has left behind it than they were in enduring the war itself. If, however, we are to ensure lasting progress, prosperity and social peace, all classes must continue to throw themselves into the work of reconstruction with goodwill for others, with energy, and with patience, and legislation providing for large and far-reaching measures of reform must be passed into law. The condition of Ireland causes me grave concern, but a Bill will immediately be laid before you to give effect to the proposals for the better government of that country which were outlined at the end of the last Session. A Bill to make further provision for education in Ireland will also be submitted to you. The absence of facilities for education for a considerable part of the child population in certain districts makes the question one of urgency, but care will be taken to make the measure compatible with the Home Rule Bill. It is imperative that the difficult problems which have arisen in connection with the coal-mining industry should be settled on an enduring basis. These problems will demand your anxious and early attention. In addition to an emergency measure to adjust the financial arrangements of the collieries to meet the abnormal economic conditions at present prevailing in the industry, you will be asked to consider proposals for the acquisition of coal royalties by the State, for the improvement of conditions in mining areas, and for the future ordering of the industry in the best interests of the community as a whole. Experience during the war showed clearly the injurious effects upon national efficiency of the excessive consumption. of strong drink and the amelioration both in health and efficiency which followed appropriate measures of regulation and control. A Bill will accordingly be presented to you providing for the development of a suitable system for the peace-time regulation of the sale and supply of alcoholic liquor. |