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cided to do would in any event be more quickly done than now, when it appears that the "Scheme of Defence Committee" has six months whole time work before it to bring all the ships concerned into line with the Regulations; with little expectation that any or- ganised "plan of defence" will be separately arranged before the regulation "scheme of defence" is set out by the Committee.
This misplaced incidence seems to have occasioned a misapprehension that appears in the Minority Report. That report, which hardly recognises sufficiently the important distinction between piracies from within and piracies from without, carries the Govern- ment acceptance of a responsibility, which it was forced by circumstances to assume but which it cannot fully discharge, to the furthest possible limits, and lays the whole burden on the Navy, apparently absolving owners, officers and crew from doing anything at all in their own interests.
Government action was required to force a beginning. The last thirteen years have provided ideas, and considerable constructional work, which should not now be in danger of losing their momentum, and experience which is not likely to be ignored. There is now more probability that the experience gathered will be put to practical use without, rather than with, Government "interference".
VIII.--Recommendations and Conclusions.
The main conclusion to which the Commission has been driven is that the condi- tions demand precautions and an organisation to resist pirates on board every vessel ex- posed to the risk of piracy; but that no system is worth the cost of installation or the trouble of organising, unless it is backed by a determination to resist on the part of owners and officers alike, who must necessarily cooperate to this end. The Government hand in the organisation on board is openly unpopular, and, in lacking the essential co- operation of owners and officers, even constitutes an obstacle to the institution and deve- lopment of voluntary schemes. The Piracy Prevention Regulations and thirteen years experience have given a valuable lead; and the Commission is unanimously of opinion that the responsibility for internal precautions and organisation should now be thrown back upon the owners, who, by seeking the cooperation of their officers and considering their views, will at least be able to ensure that confidence in the arrangements which is essen- tial. Where the proper spirit exists, the Commissioners are convinced that arrangements can be made which will go far towards eliminating the risk of piracy, while if that spirit is lacking Government regulations will avail but little. This conclusion is no royal road to the elimination of piracy, but the Commissioners are satisfied that it goes to the heart of the matter, and that it must form the foundation of any attempt of whatever kind to mitigate the evils of piratical attacks.
It is by no means intended however that the Government should do nothing. It is the Government's part to press for all possible patrolling, and independent action if called for, by the Navy on the river and around spots such as Bias Bay, to encourage the instal- lation of wireless, to consider the desirability of making it compulsory, and to facilitate its employment by such methods as the reduction to a minimum of transmission charges, to continue to make the Colony an unhealthy centre for pirates by search and detective operations afloat and ashore, and in addition to afford all such advice and assistance to- wards the making of satisfactory arrangements on board, as it may be possible to provide. In a purely voluntary scheme such as the Commission favours the provision of satisfactory guards for example may offer difficulties to private companies. In this matter Government could undoubtedly assist, and under section VI above the Commissioners have outlined a scheme which they anticipate would secure the necessary cooperation with the owners. There may be many details in which advice would be sought, (the details of a system of signals is an obvious one), and the resources of the Harbour Office, and of others as may be necessary, should be made available. In. their recommendations the Commission- ers include in a general shape applicable to all vessels alike points, which the enquiry has shown to be most deserving of the consideration of owners in forming their own defence schemes. But opinions may be desired on the many possible modifications and these should be readily available.