30
31
of the position appeared more and more unsatisfactory. For though seareely any licences had been taken out, all of the cargo-boatmen were in full work. The difficulty of the situation was increased by my inability to discover with certainty whether this neglect
on
men was
the
part of the
an intentional
defiance of the law or merely indicated a desire
to
533
to assist towards clearing
while the
off the accumulated business of the ports Government was considering their grievanece
18.
es.
In this difficulty
with the object of obtaining
the opinion of the mercantile community
on
the above
On
the
question and also aspect of the regulations
presented itself to
which
me,
I summoned
а
meeting at Government House
of