266
coupled with the three years' probationary period, they
would not be prepared to put such an offer before them.
The Board are advised that, having regard to the
qualifications and responsibilities of a competent
surveyor, the remuneration offered compares unfavourably
with that offered to ship draughtsmen in Hong Kong and
other ports in the East,
The last open examination for ship surveyors to be
appointed to this Department was held in 1921, and there
is no waiting list. In these circumstances the Board
can only suggest that the post should be advertised, and
in that event they would be prepared to assist in the
selection of a suitable candidate and in his training
subsequently; the Board are, however, doubtful whether
a competent man could be obtained at the remuneration
suggested, and even if such a man can be obtained it
would require at least a year to train him.
/with
With regard to the question of the acceptance of the passenger certificates of the steamers "Changte" and "Taiping", the Board's technical officers have been in
consultation with the representatives of the builders and
have been furnished with certain plans which, it is thought,
will enable them to form an opinion as to whether these plans indicate a satisfactory compliance with the Board's regulations, or to suggest amendments which will secure
this result,
Certain further plans and particulars will be necessary
in order to enable a final conclusion on this point to be
reached, but should it be possible to approve the plans and to obtain reports subsequently from Hong Kong showing the compliance of the ship as completed with the Board's regulations, they would be prepared to make a recommendation to the Commonwealth Government that the passenger
certificates of these two vessels should be recognised as
a special case, and the general question of the recognition of the Hong Kong Passenger Certificate would await a decision on the question of the survey staff of the Colony, and on the regulations enforced, being such as to enable
the Board to recommend that an Order in Council should be
/made }