Seamen's Act 1958

In any proceeding under this Part it shall not be necessary, for the purpose of proving the list roll articles or agreement under or by which any such seaman has shipped joined or engaged to serve on board any such vessel, to call any subscribing or attesting witness thereto; but such list roll articles or agreement as aforesaid may be proved as if there were no such subscribing or attesting witness, and a copy of any such list roll article or agreement as aforesaid certified under the hand of the consul of the nation or state to which such vessel belongs to be a true copy shall be received as prima facie evidence of the existence and contents thereof; and the certificate of the consul of any nation or state in which such list roll articles or agreement has been made as to the true spirit effect and meaning thereof according to the law of such nation or state shall be received as prima facie evidence of the effect of such list roll articles or agreement in all matters not inconsistent with the language thereof respectively; and in any proceeding under this Part the Magistrates' Court may in its discretion receive proof of matters as evidence although not admissible according to the strict rules of law.

No. 3766 s. 13.