315.—(1) The master of every ship, whether an emigrant ship or not, which is fitting or intended for the carriage of steerage passengers, or which carries steerage passengers on a voyage from the British Islands to any port out of Europe and not within the Mediterranean Sea, or on a colonial voyage as herein-before defined, shall afford to the emigration officer at any port in Her Majesty’s dominions, and, in the case of British ships, to the British consular officer at any port elsewhere at which the ship is or arrives, every facility for inspecting the ship, and for communicating with the steerage passengers and for ascertaining that this Part of this Act, so far as applicable to the ship, has been duly complied with.

(2) If the master of any ship fails to comply with this section, he shall for each offence be liable to a fine not exceeding fifty pounds.