Seamen and the law : an examination of the impact of legislation on the British merchant seaman's lot, 1588-1918
The aims of this study were to determine the general outline over three centuries of variations in the sailors' lot; to establish the linkage with the legislative process, and to ascertain what part Parliament, the unions and the executive had played in making and interpreting the law. It was found that the years 1838-51, 1867-83 and 1905-18 were periods when significant advance occurred, with the earlier and intervening years forming plateaux where little change took place. The legal provision in respect of seamen was of three types - Admiralty-inspired, trade-enhancing and reformist - with the first two categories predominating. The Admiralty consistently attempted to treat merchant seamen as a secondary source of manpower down to the end of the nineteenth-century, while trade interests sought to have the men subject to strict disciplinary requirements and subscribe to a state-supervised contract of employment that stabilised variable costs. Unions were unable to influence the legislative process to any great extent because they had little real power until the large steam vessel provided a background to employment similar to that in large units of enterprise ashore, while the Board of Trade was dominated
Dixon, Conrad Hepworth
History
Seamen and the law : an examination of the impact of legislation on the British merchant seaman's lot, 1588-1918. The aims of this study were to determine the general outline over three centuries of variations in the sailors' lot; to establish the linkage with the legislative process, and to ascertain what part Parliament, the unions and the executive had played in making and interpreting the law. It was found that the years 1838-51, 1867-83 and 1905-18 were periods when significant advance occurred, with the earlier and intervening years forming plateaux where little change took place. The legal provision in respect of seamen was of three types - Admiralty-inspired, trade-enhancing and reformist - with the first two categories predominating. The Admiralty consistently attempted to treat merchant seamen as a secondary source of manpower down to the end of the nineteenth-century, while trade interests sought to have the men subject to strict disciplinary requirements and subscribe to a state-supervised contract of employment that stabilised variable costs. Unions were unable to influence the legislative process to any great extent because they had little real power until the large steam vessel provided a background to employment similar to that in large units of enterprise ashore, while the Board of Trade was dominated
law examination impact legislation british_merchant lot aim_study determine general outline variation sailor lot establish linkage legislative_process ascertain part parliament union executive play make interpreting law find period significant_advance occur form little change_take_place legal provision respect three_type admiralty inspired trade reformist first_two category predominate admiralty consistently attempt treat merchant secondary_source manpower end nineteenth_century trade interest seek men subject strict disciplinary requirement subscribe state contract employment stabilise variable cost unable influence legislative_process great_extent little real power large steam vessel provide_background employment similar large unit enterprise board_trade dominate