100
170
9
"Consul has been in force in this Colony for a period of thirty-one years and is found to be a very useful measure. It tends in a great measure to check desertion, and has not been made the subject of much complaint!
5. The Harbour Master pays the fees into the Colonial Treasury. The average collection during the last three years has been as follows:-
British Ships $6538 German 11 470 United States " 474 Other Nationalities 927 Total $7,709The average cost of seamen is $1.171 per annum.
6. The practical question to be decided is this: Can the Colonial Government enforce the Ordinances referred to (22.8 of 1879) against Foreign Consuls if they think proper to refuse payment, as the Consul of the United States has refused? If not, it appears that the law should be altered, so as to confer power on the Government to enforce it in all cases.