HARBOUR DEPARTMENT REPORT.
14
103
The staff of the Harbour Department, particularly as
regards the Europeans, has grown considerably within the last
five years, and whilst the Commissioners fully recognize the
desirability of efficiency, they also realize that there is a
point where efficiency becomes uneconomical, and in their
opinion this point has been passed. There is moreover the
danger that too rigourous regulations may discourage shipping
from using the port.
2.
The executive of the department consists of the
Harbour Master, the Deputy Harbour Master and the Assistant
Harbour Master. Prior to 1925 there was a Harbour Master and
Assistant Harbour Master. The Commissioners are not satisfied
that the posts of both Deputy and Assistant Harbour Master
are necessary, and they recommend that they be re-amalgamated
into one post; leave requirements notwithstanding. The
Harbour Master should be relieved of a certain amount of work
by the transference to the Police Court of all non technical
cases, which at present come before him as Marine Magistrate.
In 1923 there were in all twenty three clerks, none
of whom were European. In 1931 the authorised establishment
consists of five European clerks, one Stenographer and thirty-
five clerks and shroffs. Such a large increase is not in
3.
the opinion of the Commissioners justified. Of the five
Europeans two are in the Harbour Office proper, one in the,
Government Marine Surveyors' Office, one in the Shipping Office,
and one vacant post. The Commissioners consider that the
Stenographer is unnecessary and that one European clerk in
the Harbour Office and one in the Government Marine Surveyors'
Office, making a total of two European clerks, to be quite
sufficient for the work to be done. Reductions should also be