157
a Chinese-speaking Officer, (including as it did the control
of Chinese Distilleries on land), but in recommending to you
that this Sub-department should be practically independent of
the Harbour Department I was influenced by the very strong
though private representations made to me by the Chairman of
the Chamber of Commerce and others, who urged upon me that if
the Harbour Master were in any way concerned in the collection
of these duties there would be great friction, and in fact the
duties themselves would be opposed on these grounds. On the
other hand I believe that Commander Taylor has taken an
immense amount of private interest, and has devoted himself
with great energy to the compilation of statistics regarding
Imports and Exports, and to the affording of information to
enquirers. (d). Finally in regard to the conduct of the
Marine Magistrate's Court, I found it necessary to direct
that a large number of cases which were not in any way technic-
-al should be left to the Police Courts, as it was represented
to me that on the one hand the Harbour Master devoted an undue
proportion of his time to Court work, and on the other hand
that his sentences were unduly severe.
3.
These 4 branches cover a great part of
the work of the Harbour Office and in regard to his duties
afloat,