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Just as the "Phranang" and the "Devawongse" began
to earn what may be called unusual profits (they have been chartered for $31,000 and $31500 a month respectively) the Goverment stepped in a took them over. A month's rent has been received for the "Phranang", and it was scarcely
sufficient to cover the cost of her recent repairs. A
claim for the return of this money will be made, and the
Company, being still in debt and deprived of its chief
earning power, is not in a position to repay it. For this
reason, among others, we pray for the release of the
*Devawongse", so as to enable us to discharge our
obligations including the liquidation of the heavy debt of
the Company.
In a letter addressed to our solicitor, Mr. C.D.
Wilkinson, who, prior to our letter to the Commodore,
applied on our behalf for the release of one of the two
steamers, Mr. Noel Wright, the Commodore's Secretary, said
that "it was absolutely necessary to take up a large number of vessels (each of which had to possess certain
definite qualifications) with a minimum lost of time,
practically every suitable ship which happened to be near
had at hand to be taken up". As regards the question of
qualifications, we understand that many vessels belonging
to other companies are equally suitable.I submit that the
requisitioning of one steamer in preference to another
because it happens to be near to hand may work, as it has worki
in our case, great hardship. There must be many other
steamers now near at hand, and we would respectfully
that the Company with the smallest proportion of its
tonnage requisitioned, should be required to hand over a
urge
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