- 11.
35
charge for food supplied on board but Guards now
receive an additional $2.00 per mensem as a hard lying
allowance to cover part cost of the food which is
provided by the Shipping Company.
This amount added
to their pay i.e.:-
2nd Class P.C...
$22.00 per mensem.
$26.00 per mensem.
1st Class P.C..
·
reduces the cost of messing to $6.50 per mensem, a much more reasonable amount leaving a respectable margin of
pay after allowing for messing and home remittance of
$5.00 per mensem which most of them make.
6.
Modifications in the scheme detailed above
may be necessary from time to time but generally speaking
the existing arrangements appear to be eminently
satisfactory to all concerned and have so far worked
smoothly and effectively. The Guards are reliable and
I am satisfied will give a good account of themselves if called upon to engage any pirates who find their way
aboard these steamers. My only doubt concerns the arrangement with the Canadian Pacific Steamships Ltd.; they undoubtedly have a large expenditure to face in maintaining Guards on a monthly basis when the Guards.
are only required for 10 to 14 days in the month.
Possibly some agreement might be come to between the Government and the Company that the Guards who are very efficient might be used for Police work when not required for Anti-Piracy duties (as they are in fact already when such duties are paid for) thereby reducing the cost of maintenance as far as this Shipping Company
is concerned. Should this suggestion be entertained I
can