113
A:35
0:36
The first I heard of the matter was when the
First Bailiff told me that the A. & B. Co., Ltd. were
supplying provisions to the officers and crew and
advancing money for wages. This had been going on
for months before I knew of it. It must have been
in June or July this year when I first heard of it,
I do not know under what arrangement this
was done. So far as I knew it might have been done
on the instructions of the plaintiffs. The Bailiff
never asked me what should be done for the provision
of funds for future maintenance. The Company never
sent in any account to me, nor did the ship or the
Bailiff.
A:36
0:37
So far as I was aware it was an arrangement
with which the Registry had no concern. The Registrar
had no power to give authority for such advances.
Did the plaintiffs in the actions ever mention
to you the necessity for finding funds?
NO.
No.
Were you ever consulted by anyone as to the
A. & B. Co., Ltd. supplying funds or provisions?
A:37
No arrangement was made with me. If
the question had been raised I should have at once consulted Deacons and Johnson, Stokes & Master who
were acting for the plaintiffs in the actions.
We take it then that you did not concern yourself with the right of the crew to remain on
board or the numbers kept on board?
0:38
A:38
No. I was not concerned with their right
to be there and had no knowledge of the numbers main-
tained.
0:39
General.
Did you give any receipts in the Registry in
respect of the payment of any moneys?
21.