Th e Cr o x t e t h Ha l l ; Th e Ce l t i c. [Ct. o f Ap p. Ct. o f Ap p.]
T h e d e fe n d a n ts ad duced evidence t o show t h a t e m p lo y m e n t was a v a ila b le t o C o m e rfo rd o n b o a rd v a rio u s ships w h ic h signed on crews be tw ee n th e d a te o f th e w re c k a n d th e d a te th re e m o n th s la te r w h e n he w as n e x t e m p lo ye d . A s to th is m a tte r , h o w e v e r, I d o n o t fin d th e d e fend an ts t o h a v e esta b lish e d t h a t on a n y d a y o r da ys w it h in tw o m o n th s o f th e w re c k C o m e rfo rd w as able t o o b ta in s u ita b le e m p lo y m e n t.
T h e m a in q u estio ns in t h is case, as in M u r r a y 's ease, are w h e th e r C o m e rfo rd ’ s service was b y th e w re c k o r loss o f th e Celtic te rm in a te d b e fore th e d a te c o n te m p la te d in his agreem ent, a n d w h e th e r he w as u n e m p lo y e d d u rin g tw o m o n th s fr o m th e te r m in a tio n o f his service.
U p o n lik e g ro u n d s t o these w h ic h I h a v e s ta te d in th e case o f th e Croxteth H a ll, b o th these questio ns m u s t be answ ered in th e a ffirm a tiv e . T h e fa c t t h a t, w i t h th e C eltic safe in p o r t in L iv e rp o o l, C o m e rfo rd ’ s service u n d e r h is a rtic le s w o u ld a p p a re n tly h a v e te rm in a te d o n th e l l t h D e c., th e n e x t d a y a fte r th e loss o f th e vessel, does n o t, in m y ju d g m e n t, d e p riv e h im o f t h e b e n e fit c o n fe rre d b y sect. 1 o f th e A c t o f 1025, a n d his c la im m u s t be a llo w e d fo r tw o m o n th s fr o m th e a c tu a l te r m in a tio n o f h is service b y th e loss o f th e s h ip o n th e 1 0 th D ec., less one d a y ’ s wages a lre a d y p a id .
T h e de fe n d a n ts appealed.
D u n lo p , K .C ., a n d A . J . Hodgson, fo r th e a p p e lla n ts .
L a n g to n , K .C ., a n d L y n s k e y , K .C ., fo r th e re s p o n d e n t M u r r a y .
F ra s e r H a rris o n fo r th e re s p o n d e n t C o m er
fo rd .
Scrutton, L . J . — U n t i l 1925 th e wages o f a seam an ceased o n th e w re c k o f h is sh ip , b u t he Was r e tu rn e d t o th e U n ite d K in g d o m a t th e expense o f th e s h ip o w n e r. O n th e 31 st J u ly 1925, th e re cam e in to fo rc e a n A c t o f P a rlia m e n t (15 & 16 Geo. 5, c. 42) designed t o g iv e e ffe c t to c e rta in I n te r n a tio n a l C o n v e n tio n s a r riv e d a t in 1920 a n d 1921. Such c o n v e n tio n s ha ve oo e ffe ct in G re a t B r it a in u n t il th e y are em b o d ie d in s ta tu te s , th o u g h i f th e la ng uag e o f th e s ta tu te is a m b ig u o u s , th e la ng uag e o f th e C o n v e n tio n m a y be re s o rte d t o t o assist in in te r p r e tin g th e s ta tu te . T h e t it l e o f th is f t a t u t e e m p lo y s th e phrase “ a n u n e m p lo y m e n t in d e m n ity f o r seam en in t h e case o f loss o r fo u n d e rin g o f a s h ip .” T h e m a te r ia l sectio n reads as fo llo w s : [th e le a rn e d L o r d J u s tic e
?ea d sect. 1, sub-sect. (1) (2 )] I t is o b v io u s t h a t th e w re c k o r loss o f a s h ip o n w h ic h a seam an is s e rv in g w i ll a lw a y s h a p p e n b e fore th e d a te c o n te m p la te d fo r th e te r m in a tio n o f Lis service. T h e sub -sectio n, th e re fo re , gives h im fo r tw o m o n th s a fte r th e w re c k a r ig h t to receive wages a t th e ra te m e n tio n e d in th e agre em e nt. I f I u n d e rs to o d c o rre c tly th e arg u m e n t o f M r . D u n lo p fo r th e sh ip o w n e r, he c°n te n d e d t h a t u n d e r th is su b -se ctio n alone fh e seam an c o u ld n o t g e t wages fo r a n y p e rio d
a fte r th e d a te a t w h ic h , h a d th e re been no w re c k , th e a g re e m e n t t o serve w o u ld ha ve te rm in a te d . I c a n n o t o b ta in th is re s u lt o u t o f th e la nguage o f sub-sect. (1), w h ic h appears t o g iv e wages fo r a fix e d te r m o f tw o m o n th s fr o m th e w re c k , “ s u b je c t to th e p ro v is io n s o f th e s e c tio n .” T h e re le v a n t p ro v is io n is sub-sect. (2) w h ic h I ha ve ju s t rea d. T h is p u ts th e b u rd e n o n th e s h ip o w n e r t o p ro v e c e rta in fa c ts w h ic h w o u ld displace th e r ig h t t o wages a c q u ire d b y th e seam an u n d e r sub-sect. (1).
H e m a y show t h a t th e u n e m p lo y m e n t was n o t due t o th e w re c k o r loss o f th e s h ip . T h e seam an is o b v io u s ly u n e m p lo y e d o n th e ship in w h ic h he served because o f its loss. B u t h is a c tu a l u n e m p lo y m e n t on a n y s h ip a t a ll m a y be p r im a r ily o r p r o x im a te ly due to h is ow n d is a b ility , as i f he bre aks h is leg a fte r he has s a fe ly la n d e d , o r a fte r th e same d a te gets sent t o p ris o n . U n e m p lo y m e n t m a y also be d ir e c tly due t o th e fa c t t h a t he has m ade no a tte m p t a t a ll to o b ta in o th e r e m p lo y m e n t, th o u g h vacancies on o th e r ships w ere b e in g offered, b u t s im p ly gone o n th e “ d o le .” I n such a case, i f p ro v e d b y th e sh ip o w n e r, I t h in k th e u n e m p lo y m e n t w o u ld n o t be due to th e w re c k . T h e seam an m a y p ro v e t h a t a t th e tim e o f th e w re c k he h a d e ith e r a p ro m is e o f e m p lo y m e n t o n th e n e x t vo ya g e , o r a reasonable e x p e c ta tio n fr o m p a s t h is to r y o f o b ta in in g such e m p lo y m e n t. F o r in s ta n c e , w h ere fo r some years th e seam an has been r e g u la rly re-engaged a fte r th e voya ge , a n d h is a g ree m ent te rm in a te s , I t h in k th e seam an w o u ld be e n title d to say t h a t he was u n e m p lo y e d as th e re s u lt o f th e w re c k . B u t th e e m p lo y e r m ig h t s t ill displa ce i t b y sh o w in g t h a t th e seam an has m ad e n o a tte m p t a t a ll t o o b ta in s u b s titu te d e m p lo y m e n t, th o u g h i t was o ffe rin g . I t h in k a d iffic u lt q u e s tio n m a y arise, i f th e e m p lo y e r pro ves t h a t th e s ta te o f th e la b o u r m a rk e t is such t h a t i f th e re h a d been n o w re c k th e seaman o n h is engagem ent te r m in a tin g w o u ld n o t h a v e o b ta in e d e m p lo y m e n t e ith e r in th e w re c k e d o r a n y o th e r sh ip . T h is is s im ila r t o th e q u e s tio n o n w h ic h th e re has been m u c h discussion u n d e r th e W o rk m e n ’ s C o m pe nsatio n A c t. T h e q u e s tio n th e re arises in th is w a y . B y sect. 1 a w o rk m a n s u ffe rin g pe rso n a l in ju r y b y a c c id e n t is e n title d to co m p e n s a tio n fro m h is e m p lo y e r, a n d , u n d e r sect. 9, sub-sect. 1, w h e re p a r tia l in c a p a c ity fo r w o r k re s u lts fro m th e in ju r y , a w e e k ly p a y m e n t c a lc u la te d on c e rta in ru le s, one ite m in w h ic h is th e w e e k ly a m o u n t he is ab le t o earn a fte r th e a c c id e n t.
T h is is acco m pa nie d b y a p ro v is io n t h a t i f th e w o rk m a n pro ves he has ta k e n reasonable steps to o b ta in e m p lo y m e n t a n d has fa ile d , a n d t h a t h is fa ilu re is a consequence w h o lly o r m a in ly o f th e in ju r y , th e ju d g e m a y o rd e r his in c a p a c ity to be tre a te d as t o t a l in c a p a c ity . O n these p ro v is io n s th e q u e s tio n has arisen :
“ W h a t is th e p o s itio n w h ere , th o u g h th e w o r k m a n lo s t h is e m p lo y m e n t th ro u g h a c c id e n t, o n h is re c o v e ry , a p a r tia l re c o v e ry , th e c o n d itio n o f th e la b o u r m a rk e t is such t h a t even i f th e w o rk m a n h a d n e v e r m e t w i t h a n a c c id e n t he
Ct. ofApp.] Th e Cr o x t e t h Ha l l ; Th e Ce l t i c. [Ct. o f Ap p. w o u ld h a v e been o u t o f w o rk , a n d c o u ld n o t
g e t e m p lo y m e n t ? ” I n such a s ta te o f fa cts th e H ouse o f L o rd s has h e ld t h a t u n e m p lo y m e n t is n o t a consequence w h o lly o r m a in ly o f th e a c c id e n t o r in ju r y , h u t is a conse
quence o f th e s ta te o f th e la b o u r m a rk e t, a n d t h a t “ ab le to ea rn ” relates t o p h y s ic a l c a p a c ity to earn, a n d n o t to th e s ta te o f th e la b o u r m a r k e t : (B evan v . N ix o n 's N a v i
ga tion , 139 L . T . R e p . 64,7 ; (1929) A . C.
44 ; L y o n v . T a y lo r Brothers (1929, 21 W . C. C., 416).
I ha ve com e t o th e c o n clu sio n t h a t these decisions t u r n o n th e spe cia l language o f th e A c ts a p p lic a b le , a n d t h a t n o p rin c ip le in v o lv e d in those decisions enables th e e m p lo y e r u n d e r th e A c t n o w u n d e r c o n s id e ra tio n t o p ro v e t h a t th e u n e m p lo y m e n t is n o t “ due t o th e w re c k ” b y p ro v in g th e s ta te o f th e la b o u r m a rk e t, an d so to d e fe a t th e c la im . I n o th e r w o rds, w here, e ith e r b y express agree m ent, o r on reasonable p r o b a b ility fro m p a s t h is to r y , th e seam an w o u ld b u t fo r th e w re c k h a v e c o n tin u e d to be e m p lo y e d in th e w re c k e d vessel, h is loss o f e m p lo y m e n t is due t o th e w re c k , even th o u g h in th e s ta te o f th e la b o u r m a r k e t he fin d s d iff ic u lt y in g e ttin g e m p lo y m e n t. A p a r t fro m evidence o f re fu s a l to serve o n a n y p a r tic u la r d a y , th e cause, o r th e e ffe c tiv e cause, o f his u n e m p lo y m e n t is th e w re c k .
T h e second p a r t o f sub-sect. (2) enables th e e m p lo y e r t o d e fe a t th e p r im a fa c ie c la im u n d e r sub-sect. (1) b y p ro v in g in respect o f a n y d a y t h a t th e seam an was a b le t o o b ta in s u ita b le e m p lo y m e n t t h a t d a y . T h is is a d iffe re n t an d in d e p e n d e n t p ro v is io n . T h e e m p lo y e r m a y n o t b e able to p ro v e i t , a n d y e t m a y succeed u n d e r th e f ir s t p a r t o f sub-sect. (2) as i f th e e m p lo y e r pro ves t h a t th e d a y a fte r th e seam an was s a fe ly b a c k in E n g la n d he b ro k e his leg a n d was la id u p fo r tw o m o n th s , o r, t o ta k e an e x tre m e case, i f th e e m p lo y e r pro ves t h a t on th e same d a y th e seam an was sen t t o p ris o n fo r tw o m o n th s . B u t I do n o t t h in k th e e m p lo y e r satisfies th e second c o n d itio n in s ub
sect. (2) b y p ro v in g v a c a n t places fo r w h ic h a n y seam an m ig h t a p p ly a n d no a tte m p t to o b ta in th e m . T h a t, in m y o p in io n , w i ll be re le v a n t u n d e r th e fir s t c o n d itio n . T o s a tis fy th e second c o n d itio n th e e m p lo y e r m u s t p ro v e an o ffe r to th e seam an o f s u ita b le e m p lo y m e n t, a n d re fu s a l b y th e seam an. I can see t h a t d iff ic u lt ques
tio n s m a y arise w h e n th e wages o ffere d are less th a n th e wages earned b e fo re th e w re c k , an d i t is q u e s tio n a b le w h e th e r th e diffe re n ce is due to changed c o n d itio n s o f th e la b o u r m a rk e t o r t o d iffe re n t v a lu e be tw ee n th e la b o u r o r ig in a lly done a n d th e la b o u r o ffere d. I t w i ll be seen t h a t, in m y v ie w , each case m u s t depend on its o w n fa c ts , h u t I h a v e en de avo ured t o la y d o w n c e rta in p rin c ip le s fo r th e c o n s tru c tio n o f th e s ta tu te , b y w h ic h th e p a r tic u la r fa c ts in each case m a y be te s te d . I n o w t u r n to th e tw o cases in q u e s tio n , w ith th e w a rn in g t h a t th e de cision in each case does n o t necessarily a p p ly to each m a n in v o lv e d in th e w re c k in q u e s tio n .
Th e Cr o x t e t h Ha l l.
T h e Croxteth H a ll was w re c k e d o ff F lu s h in g on th e 2 7 th F e b . 1929. J o h n M u r r a y was th e n engaged in h e r o n a n a g ree m ent d a te d th e 2 9 th O c t. 1928 fo r a v o y a g e n o t exceeding tw o years fr o m M a n c h e s te r to th e P e rs ia n G u lf, tr a d in g w it h in c e rta in lim it s , a n d to e n d a t such p o r t in th e U n ite d K in g d o m o r C o n tin e n t as m a y be re q u ire d b y th e m a s te r. A f te r re a c h in g A n tw e r p w it h a h o m e w a rd cargo th e s h ip was pro ce e d in g t o th e U n ite d K in g d o m a n d was a d v e rtis e d to lo a d cargo fo r a ne w o u tw a rd v o y a g e — a t H u ll, th e 21 st M a rc h ; M id d le s b ro u g h , th e 1 1 th M a rc h ; L o n d o n , th e 1 5 th M a rc h ; S o u th W ale s, th e 2 2 n d M a rc h ; a n d G lasgow , th e 2 7 th M a rc h . M u r r a y h a d been p re v io u s ly engaged in th e Croxteth H a ll o n fo u r voyages, w it h one b re a k , a n d u s u a lly s to o d b y o n p a y w h ile th e s h ip was in p o r t a fte r he was p a id o ff t i l l he signed o n a g ain. B e fo re th e w re c k he h a d been asked b y th e c h ie f o ffic e r to s ta n d b y th e s h ip w h e n she g o t t o M id d le s b ro u g h , w h ic h was a p p a re n tly th e n tre a te d as th e end o f th e vo ya g e , a n d was exp e cte d to be reached on th e 1 0 th o r 1 1 th M a rc h . A f t e r th e w re c k M u r r a y was ta k e n t o L iv e r p o o l a n d th e re p a id o ff on th e 4 th M a rc h . H e c la im e d tw o m o n th s ’ wages fro m th e 4 th M a rc h . T h is was c le a rly w ro n g , as th e tw o m o n th s bega n on th e 2 7 th F e b ., a n d he h a d been p a id u p t o th e 4 th M a rc h . I t is fu r th e r c le a r t h a t b u t fo r th e w re c k he w o u ld ha ve been p a id u p t o th e 1 0 th o r 1 1 th M a rc h o n a r r iv a l a t M id d le s b ro u g h . I n m y o p in io n also th e evidence shows t h a t b u t fo r th e w re c k he w o u ld h a v e been e m p lo y e d on th e C ro x te th H a ll, s ta n d in g b y a t M id d le s b ro u g h , co a stin g , a n d o n th e n e x t vo ya g e . So t h a t th e s h ip o w n e r t o displa ce h is lia b ilit y m u s t show t h a t o n som e n a m e d d a y M u r r a y c o u ld ha ve o b ta in e d s u ita b le e m p lo y m e n t. I a m n o t v e r y sa tis fie d w it h M u r r a y ’ s b e h a v io u r.
H e d id n o t a p p ly to th e ow ners o f th e Croxteth H a ll fo r e m p lo y m e n t ; he e n e rg e tic a lly re p u d ia te d th e suggestion t h a t he s h o u ld a p p ly to th e ir s h ip p in g c le rk . “ I t was as m u c h fo r th e f ir m to g iv e a n o ffe r to m e as fo r m e t o g iv e an o ffe r to th e fir m . ” H e d id a p p ly to one o f th e H a ll b o a ts fo r a jo b , th e C ity o f A thens, and a n o th e r m a n g o t th e jo b . H e a tte n d e d th e s ig n in g o n o f a n u m b e r o f o th e r ships, b u t be in g a n e ld e rly m a n a n d a s tra n g e r t o th e c h ie f o ffic e r o f th e p a r tic u la r sh ip , he d id n o t g e t a jo b . I a m s a tis fie d t h a t unless th e sh ip o w n e r orders th e c h ie f o ffic e r o f a p a r tic u la r s h ip to ta k e on a p a r tic u la r m a n , o r m en , fr o m th e w re c k e d sh ip , t h a t m a n — p a r tic u la r ly i f he is e ld e rly — is n o t v e r y lik e ly t o g e t a jo b . A s h ip ’ s o ffice r, unless o rd e re d b y his em ployers, n a tu r a lly pre fe rs m en he kn o w s , a n d m en o f as m u c h y o u th as is c o n s is te n t w ith experience.
T h e evidence in m y o p in io n does n o t sho w t h a t M u r r a y on a n y p a r tic u la r d a y was able to get e m p lo y m e n t on a n y p a r tic u la r sh ip , o r t h a t he m ade no a tte m p t t o o b ta in e m p lo y m e n t, o r t h a t h is u n e m p lo y m e n t was n o t th e re s u lt o f th e w re c k . U n d e r these circu m sta nce s he is e n title d to rece ive fr o m th e s h ip o w n e r tw o
ASPINALL’S MARITIME LAW CASES.
1 2 7 O r. o f Ap p.] Th e Cr o x t e t h Ha l e ; Th e Ce l t ic. [Ct. o f Ap p. m o n th s ’ wages fr o m th e 2 7 th F e b ., less a n ya m o u n t th e s h ip o w n e r has a lre a d y p a id h im as wages. B u t he is n o t e n title d to receive b o th th e “ do le ” a n d wages, a n d h is counsel a d m itte d th is , a n d t h a t th e c o u r t s h o u ld m a k e some p ro v is io n to p re v e n t i t . I t h in k th e p ro p e r w a y t o deal w it h th e p o in t is t o o rd e r t h a t th e s h ip o w n e r m a y s a tis fy th e ju d g m e n t a g a in s t h im b y p a y in g to th e M in is t r y o f L a b o u r th e a m o u n t w h ic h M u r r a y has re ce ive d in respect o f th e “ dole ” fr o m th e la b o u r exchange, in respect o f th e tw o m o n th s in q u e s tio n , a n d b y p a y in g th e ba la nce o f th e ju d g m e n t, i f a n y , to M u r r a y . I t w i ll be seen t h a t th is ju d g m e n t does n o t a p p ly t o a n y o th e r seam an o f th e Croxteth H a ll e x c e p t in so fa r as th e fa c ts o f h is p a r tic u la r case com e w ith in th e p r in c ip le o f th is ju d g m e n t. W h ile th e ju d g m e n t is v a rie d to th e e x te n t I h a v e in d ic a te d , a n d I do n o t agree w it h som e p a r t o f th e rea so n in g o f th e P re s id e n t, th e a p p e a l m u s t be dism issed w it h costs.
Th e Ce l t i c.
T h e Celtic, a W h ite S ta r b o a t tr a d in g t o a n d fr o m L iv e r p o o l, was w re c k e d o ff Q ueenstow n on th e 1 0 th D e c. 1928. C o m e rfo rd , a r e f r i
g e ra tin g greaser, was b r o u g h t b a c k to L iv e rp o o l, a n d th e re p a id o ff on, a n d u p to , th e 1 1 th D ec.
1928. C o m e rfo rd , w it h th e e x c e p tio n o f tw e lv e m o n th s , h a d been e m p lo y e d in th e C eltic fo r n in e yea rs, a n d th e W h ite S ta r o ffic ia ls say th e y c o u ld n o t h a v e a b e tte r m a n . I a m sa tis fie d t h a t i t w as a re s u lt o f th e w re c k t h a t he w as n o t e m p lo y e d o n th e C eltic d u r in g th e tw o m o n th s in q u e s tio n . C o m e rfo rd t r ie d to g e t o n a n u m b e r o f ships, in c lu d in g some o f th e W h ite S ta r b o a ts , b u t d id n o t g e t a jo b . H e d id n o t a p p ly t o th e W h ite S ta r office, o r its s h ip p in g m a s te r, f o r a jo b ; I suspect th is was th e r e s u lt o f th e in s tru c tio n s o f th e u n io n o ffic ia ls . B u t w h e th e r th is is so, th e W h ite S ta r o ffic ia ls d id n o t o ffe r h im a n engagem ent
° n a n y p a r tic u la r b o a t, a n d in th e r e s u lt are,
>n m y o p in io n , u n a b le t o p ro v e t h a t he was ab le to o b ta in s u ita b le e m p lo y m e n t o n a n y P a rtic u la r d a y . I t h in k in th e case o f engineers, th e second en ginee r w h o ta k e s o n m en, in th e absence o f d e fin ite in s tru c tio n s fr o m his e m p lo yers— w h ic h w ere n o t p ro v e d — is n o t lik e ly t o g iv e a n y special pre fe ren ce to m en fro m o th e r w re c k e d ships o f th e lin e . C o m e rfo rd ls > th e re fo re , e n title d t o rece ive tw o m o n th s ’
"'ages fr o m th e d a te o f th e w re c k , less a n y '''ages he has rece ive d, a n d th e a p p e a l m u s t he dism issed w it h costs.
T h e re is no in fo r m a tio n a b o u t th e “ do le ” ln th is case, b u t I t r u s t th e lo c a l la b o u r exchange w i ll lo o k in to th e m a tte r , b o th in th is case a n d a n y fu tu r e case.
. I a p p re c ia te th e d iffic u ltie s o f th e s hipo w ne rs 111 these cases. P erh ap s th e y w i ll co n sid e r w h e th e r b y re g is te re d le tt e r th e y s h o u ld m a k e an o ffe r o f e m p lo y m e n t in a n a m e d s h ip to
®ach m a n th e y w is h T o e m p lo y , a n d in s tr u c t t h®h c h ie f o ffic e r o r engineer to m a k e t h a t o ffe r e ffe c tiv e . I a m also n o t s a tis fie d w ith a
sys te m u n d e r w h ic h th e seam an, w h e th e r u n d e r in s tru c tio n s o f u n io n o ffic ia ls o r n o t, in te n tio n a lly m akes no a p p lic a tio n to h is p re v io u s e m p lo ye rs fo r e m p lo y m e n t, a n d th e n cla im s o n th e m fo r u n e m p lo y m e n t. I f such a n in te n t io n a l course o f c o n d u c t is p ro v e d , i t m a y h a v e a serious b e a rin g o n th e q u e s tio n w h e th e r th e s hipo w ne rs h a v e n o t p ro v e d t h a t th e seam an’s u n e m p lo y m e n t is n o t th e re s u lt o f th e w re c k .
Gr e e r, L . J . — J o h n M u r r a y , th e p la in t if f in th e firs t-n a m e d case, signed a rtic le s in O c t.
1928 b y w h ic h he u n d e rto o k t o serve o n b o a rd th e ste a m s h ip Croxteth H a ll fo r a v o y a g e to th e P e rs ia n G u lf, a n d th e n c e to o th e r p o rts b e tw e e n 75° n o r th a n d 60° s o u th la titu d e , a n d t o e n d a t such p o r t in th e U n ite d K in g d o m o r C o n tin e n t o f E u ro p e w it h in ho m e tra d e lim its as m ig h t be re q u ire d b y th e m a s te r. H e was selected b y th e m a s te r t o a c t as q u a r te r m a s te r d u rin g th e v o y a g e a t 91. 10s. p e r m o n th . T h e vessel was w re c k e d o ff F lu s h in g o n th e 2 8 th F e b . 1929. T h e P re s id e n t o f th e P ro b a te , D iv o rc e , a n d A d m ir a lt y D iv is io n , w h o he a rd th e a c tio n , fo u n d t h a t i f th e re h a d been no w re c k th e v o y a g e w o u ld h a v e ended a t M id d le s b ro u g h o n th e 1 1 th M a rc h 1929. T h e p la in t if f c la im e d u n d e r th e M e rc h a n t S h ip p in g ( In te r n a tio n a l L a b o u r C o n v e n tio n s ) A c t 1925 (15 & 16 Geo. 5, c. 42) tw o m o n th s ’ wages fr o m th e 4 th M a rc h 1929, w h e n he was p a id o ff. H e was c le a rly n o t e n title d to wages fo r m o re th a n tw o m o n th s fr o m th e 2 8 th F e b ., th e d a te o f th e w re c k , a n d i t is n o t d is p u te d t h a t th e ju d g m e n t w i ll h a v e t o be v a rie d so fa r as th e a m o u n t is concerned. I t was c o n te n d e d fo r th e a p p e lla n t s hipo w ne rs t h a t he was o n ly e n title d to wages d o w n to th e d a te w h e n h is service u n d e r th e a rtic le s w o u ld h a v e te rm in a te d a t th e end o f th e voya ge , i.e., th e 1 1 th M a rc h 1929. T h e le a rn e d P re s id e n t de cid ed a g a in s t th is co n te n tio n . I n m y ju d g m e n t he was r ig h t in so d e c id in g . I c an s ta te m y reasons q u ite s h o r tly . T h e evidence e s ta b lis h e d a p r o b a b ilit y a lm o s t a m o u n tin g t o a c e r ta in ty , t h a t i f th e v oya ge h a d ended n o r m a lly on th e 1 1 th M a rc h , th e p la in t if f w o u ld h a v e been f o r t h w ith e m p lo y e d b y th e s hipo w ne rs in th e same c a p a c ity on th e sam e s h ip . T h e m a te ria l p a rts o f sect. 1 read as fo llo w s : [th e le a rn e d L o r d J u s tic e rea d sect. l.J T h e p la in t if f was in fa c t u n e m p lo y e d fo r tw o m o n th s fr o m th e d a te o f th e w re c k , th o u g h he was p a id h is wages t o th e 4 th M a rc h . S ub-sect. (1) e n title d h im t o wages u p to th e 2 8 th A p r il unless th e de fe n d a n ts p ro v e d fa c ts w h ic h w o u ld d is e n title h im to rece ive h is wages o r some p a r t th e re o f u n d e r sub-sect. (2). I n m y ju d g m e n t th e de fe n d a n ts d id n o t show t h a t th e u n e m p lo y m e n t fro m w h ic h he in fa c t su ffe re d was n o t due t o th e w re c k . I f th e y h a d p ro v e d t h a t in th e e v e n t o f th e vessel c o m p le tin g h e r v o y a g e th e re was no reasonable p r o b a b ilit y t h a t he w o u ld h a v e been e m p lo y e d on th e Croxteth H a ll, i t m ig h t, h a v e been c o n te n d e d t h a t h is u n e m p lo y m e n t in fa c t was n o t, a fte r th e 1 1 th M a rc h , due to th e w re c k , as i t w o u ld h a v e ha pp en ed i f th e re h a d been
Ct. o f Ap p.] Th e Cr o x t e t h Ha l l ; Th e Ce l t i c. [Ct. o f Ap p. n o w re c k . I t seems to m e c le a r t h a t th e sectio n
is n o t d e a lin g w it h u n e m p lo y m e n t u n d e r a n y e x is tin g c o n tra c t, b u t w it h u n e m p lo y m e n t in fa c t, t h a t is t o sa y a c tu a l u n e m p lo y m e n t. I n m y ju d g m e n t th e w o rd s o f sub-sects. (1) a n d (2) are p la in a n d u n a m b ig u o u s , a n d w e are th e re fo re n o t e n title d to lo o k a t th e p re a m b le o r th e d r a ft c o n v e n tio n c o n ta in e d in th e schedule to th e A c t fo r th e p u rp o se o f g iv in g a spe cia l m e a n in g t o w o rd s w h ic h are in the m se lve s p la in a n d u n a m b ig u o u s . I t is co n c e iv a b le t h a t i t m ig h t h a v e been th e in te n tio n o f th e L e g is la tu r e t o p ro v id e th e seam an w it h a n in d e m n ity a g a in s t th e loss o f wages w h ic h he w o u ld o th e r
w ise h a v e earne d u n d e r th e c o n tra c t o f service w h ic h w as in o p e ra tio n a t th e d a te o f th e w re c k , b u t i t is im p o s s ib le , in m y ju d g m e n t, to in te r p r e t th e w o rd s o f th e tw o sub-sections as h a v in g a m e a n in g w h ic h w o u ld c o n fin e th e seam an’ s r ig h ts t o wages t o a r ig h t w h ic h w o u ld n o t exceed wages f o r th e p e rio d d u rin g w h ic h h is e x is tin g c o n tra c t w o u ld h a v e c on
tin u e d . I t h in k th e w o rd s p la in ly m e a n t h a t i f h is services e n d b e fo re th e d a te c o n te m p la te d in th e a g ree m ent, a n d he is in fa c t u n e m p lo y e d f o r th e p e rio d o f tw o m o n th s fr o m th e d a te o f th e w re c k , he is e n title d t o rece ive wages fo r e v e ry d a y d u r in g tho se tw o m o n th s d u rin g w h ic h he is u n e m p lo y e d , unless h is e m p lo y e r p ro v e s t h a t h e w o u ld h a v e been u n e m p lo y e d i f th e re h a d been n o w re c k . T h e q u e s tio n
tin u e d . I t h in k th e w o rd s p la in ly m e a n t h a t i f h is services e n d b e fo re th e d a te c o n te m p la te d in th e a g ree m ent, a n d he is in fa c t u n e m p lo y e d f o r th e p e rio d o f tw o m o n th s fr o m th e d a te o f th e w re c k , he is e n title d t o rece ive wages fo r e v e ry d a y d u r in g tho se tw o m o n th s d u rin g w h ic h he is u n e m p lo y e d , unless h is e m p lo y e r p ro v e s t h a t h e w o u ld h a v e been u n e m p lo y e d i f th e re h a d been n o w re c k . T h e q u e s tio n