The Minister for the Navy desires advice upon the following telegram received from the High Commissioner:

Government line steamers are being registered temporarily in the name of Turner Davidson, purchasing brokers, because Commonwealth not empowered to own vessels registered in the United Kingdom propose applying at once for transfer to Australian register dividing ports registry equitably between all States, advise by telegraph as quickly as possible whether practicable register Australia in the name of Commonwealth Government or must we nominate an individual as owner.

The registration of ships in Australia is governed wholly by the provisions of the Imperial Merchant Shipping Act. It therefore appears that the ships in question must be registered in the name of an individual or a body corporate.

[Vol. 14, p. 386]