12
B
583
a moderate standard of discipline acong them I have no doubt that
be spoke the truth, for it is clear to my mind that there was nc adequate supervision of this Branch of the Force for months pre-
Vicusly.
The condition of the Chinese Staff of the
later folica is no more satisfactory than the condition of the Land Police. I find that among the searen (80 in number) there were 20 casualties in 1902, and there have already been 22 in the
current year to date. This is rost unsatisfactory, and I recon- rand that the pay of the Second Class of searen should be raised to 11 month. Hardly sufficient promotion will be afforded by employment of heif the seamen in the large daunches where they get 16.50 a month ration allowance. I think therefore that the First Class should pet $12 a month, and that proaction to this class should be automatic after 4 years' service provided conduct is satisfactory. This would cost $824 next year. I recommend also
that the aliowance for dearness of food to seamer should be
raised from 60 cents to $1 per month as in the Chinese Land
Force.
I would wiso suggest that the pay of the
Third Cless Engineers, Coxswains and Stokers be pisced on an 10- cremental scale rising by biennial increments of $12 to $240 and $166, previous service to count for increments. This would cost
16e next year.
The practice instituted by se of the Inspec-
tor of Water Folice walling weekly on the harbour Master to take
instructions as to the enforcement of the fort kepulations was not
observed. Compialuts by Shipping tiras of the want of reguistion
in the harbour have come to my knowledge.
bost drills have been neglected with the result that inspector Langley who was sent to take charge of the fater Folice by Your Excellency's direction on the 9th. July has been busy teaching new to row who ought to have been drilled in
that