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a searching enquiry by a special cormittee would meet the gravity of the case and on the 27th October, 1926, I appointed a Committee consisting of the Honourable Mr. McI. Messer, 0.B.E., Chairman, Mr. M. Breen,
Postmaster General, and Ir. T.. Hazlerigg, Treasury Solicitor, for this purpose, the terms of reference being as follows:-
"To investigate the administration of accounts "generally of the Registry with special reference
"to an alleged shortage of $31,940 10 due to
錄 government on account of sales, to alleged
"financial transactions between the Head Bailiff
and the Shroff on the one hand, and the Auctioneer-
"ing and Brokering Company, Limited, on the other,
"and to the position with regard to the s.s. "'Ling Nam'."
As stated in paragraph three above the s.s. "Ling Nam"
was a steamer held under arrest by the Court. The
seizure was made as far back as the 4th May, 1925,
at the instigation of a local dock company to which
a large bill for repairs was ouing. Judgments were
also obtained against the ship by a large number of
other creditors, the total amounts awarded being (with
costs) $142,937.74 and £2,800. For a short while,
until 17th July, 1925, the correct procedure in the
matter of maintenance was followed, two of the princi-
pal creditors advancing the funds. But after the latter
date, which coincided with the onset of the general
strike and boycott, the creditors refused to supply further funds and an arrangement (the responsibility for which is not clear) was made by which the
Auctioneering and Brokering Company paid for the
maintenance.