4
44
The Auctioneering and Brokering Company owned,
at this period the Empress Stores (Drygoods etc.) in Kowloon and undertook to supply the necessary messing
which I, in conjunction wit the Master of the ship
accepted, it being fully understood that this
expenditure would become a first charge on the estate
when sold as in the previous case quoted in paragraph
14.
The question of Detention money became acute.
As it is quite impractical to expect a Chinese crew,
already several months in wage arrears, to work for
food alone and support their families, their monthly
wage had to be found and again the Auctioneering and
Brokering Company undertook to finance the Court to
enable this to be done. The Master and Chief
Engineer agreed to wait until sale of vessel for
their own monies due in order not to further embarrass
the venture.
3A. At such time as it could be effected without friction
always having in view the fact that every member of
the crew could demand to be retained and maintained
until such time as his outstanding wages had been paid
in full, thirty-six members of the crew were persuaded
to leave without their money and the monthly Portage
Bill was thereby cut down to a minimum.
4A. The ship to-day is in a most creditable condition,
due to the upkeep being met as above and to the unceasing attention and vigilance of the Master of
the ship.
You will therefore see that I, in my capacity as
Head Bailiff, have exercised every means at y disposal in
order