Section 343

Where a document is by this Act or by the Merchant Shipping Acts declared to be admissible in evidence, such document shall on its production from the proper custody be admissible in evidence in any court or before any person having by law or consent of parties authority to receive evidence, and, subject to all just exceptions, shall be evidence of the matters stated therein in pursuance of this Act or of those Acts or by any officer in pursuance of his duties as such officer.

A copy of any such document or extract therefrom shall also be so admissible in evidence, if proved to be an examined copy or extract, or if it purports to be signed and certified as a true copy or extract by the officer to whose custody the original document was entrusted, and that officer shall furnish such certified copy or extract to any person applying at a reasonable time for the same, upon payment of such fee as the Minister may prescribe.[380