Oct. 12.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 3281

3. Each Administration, if it considers that the route and the conditions of the voyage are such as to render the application of the full requirements of this Chapter unreasonable or unnecessary, may to that extent exempt from the requirements of this Chapter individual ships or classes of ships belonging to its country which, in the course of their voyage, do not go more than 20 miles from the nearest land.

4. In the case of existing passenger ships which are mechanically propelled and engaged on international voyages and which do not already comply with the provisions of this Chapter relating to new passenger ships, the arrangements on each ship shall be considered by the Administration of the country to which the ships belong, with a view to securing, so far as this is practicable and reasonable, compliance with the general principles set out in Article 13 not later than the 1st July, 1931, and substantial compliance with the other requirements of this Chapter.

5. In the case of passenger ships which are mechanically propelled and engaged on international voyages and which are employed in the carriage of large numbers of unberthed passengers in special trades, such, for example, as the pilgrim trade, an Administration, if satisfied that it is impracticable to enforce compliance with the requirements of this Chapter, may exempt such ships, when they belong to its country, from those requirements on the following conditions:—
   (a) That the fullest provision which the circumstances of the trade will permit shall be made in the matter of life-boats and other life-saving appliances and fire protection.
   (b) That all such boats and apparatus shall be readily available within the meaning of Article 13.
   (c) That a life-jacket shall be provided for every person on board.
   (d) That steps shall be taken to formulate general rules which shall be applicable to the particular circumstances of these trades. Such rules shall be formulated in concert with such other Contracting Governments, if any, as may be directly interested in the carriage of such passengers.

ARTICLE 13.

Lifeboats and Buoyant Apparatus.

The general principles governing the provision of lifeboats and buoyant apparatus in a ship to which this Chapter applies are that they shall be readily available in case of emergency and shall be adequate.

1. To be readily available, the lifeboats and buoyant apparatus must comply with the following conditions:—
   (a) They must be capable of being got into the water safely and rapidly even under unfavourable conditions of list and trim.
   (b) It must be possible to embark the passengers in the boats rapidly and in good order.
   (c) The arrangement of each boat and article of buoyant apparatus must be such that it will not interfere with the operation of other boats and buoyant apparatus.

2. To be adequate, the provision of lifeboats and buoyant apparatus must satisfy the following conditions:—
   (a) Subject to the provisions of sub-paragraph (b) of this paragraph there must be accommodation in boats for all persons on board, and there must, in addition, be buoyant apparatus for 25 per cent. of the persons on board.
   (b) In the case of passenger ships engaged on short international voyages, the boats must be provided in accordance with the requirements set out in the table in Regulation XXXIX, and there must be, in addition, buoyant apparatus so that the boats and buoyant apparatus together provide accommodation for all on board as set out in Regulation XXXVIII. There must, in addition, be buoyant apparatus for 10 per cent. of the persons on board.
   (c) No more boats shall be required on any passenger ship than are sufficient to accommodate all persons on board.

ARTICLE 14.

Ready Availability and Adequacy.

The arrangements for securing the principles of ready availability and adequacy mentioned in Article 13 shall be in accordance with the provisions of Regulations XXXVII, XXXVIII, and XXXIX.