137. Commencement and payment of sums allotted.- (1) A payment under an allotment note shall begin at the expiry of one month from the date of the agreement, and shall be made at the expiration of every subsequent month after the first month, and shall be made only in respect of the wages earned before the date of payment. (2) The owner, master or agent who has authorised the drawing of an allotment note shall pay to the shipping master on demand the sums due under the note, and, if he fails to do so, the shipping master may sue for and recover the same with costs: Provided that no such sum shall be recoverable if it is shown to the satisfaction of the court trying the case that the seaman has forfeited or ceased to be entitled to the wages out of which the allotment was to have been paid, but the seaman shall be presumed to be duly earning his wages unless the contrary is shown to the satisfaction of the court either by the official statement of the change in the crew caused by his absence made and signed by the master as by this Act is required, or by a certified copy of some entry in the official log book to the effect that he has died or left the ship, or by a credible letter from the master of the ship to the same effete, or by such other evidence, of whatever description, as the court may consider sufficient. (3) The shipping master on receiving any such sum as aforesaid shall pay it over to the person named in that behalf in the allotment note. (4) All such receipts and payments shall be entered in a book to be kept for the purpose, and all entries in the said book shall be authenticated by the signature of the shipping master. (5) The said book shall at all reasonable times be open to the inspection of the parties concerned. | 
