182.—(1) Whenever, during the absence of any seaman on a voyage, his wife, or any of his children or step-children, becomes chargeable to any union or parish in the United Kingdom, that union or parish shall be entitled to be reimbursed, out of the wages of the seaman earned during the voyage, any sums properly expended during his absence in the maintenance of those members of his family or any of them, so that the sums do not exceed the following proportions of his wages; (that is to say,)

(a) If only one of those members is chargeable, one half of the wages:

(b) If two or more of those members are chargeable, two thirds of the wages.

(2) If during the absence of the seaman any sums have been paid by the owner of his ship to or on behalf of any such member as aforesaid, under an allotment note made by the seaman in favour of the member, any claim for reimbursement as aforesaid shall be limited to the excess (if any) of the proportion of the wages herein-before mentioned over the sums so paid.