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COPY
THE CHINA COAST OFFICERS' GUILD.
HONGKONG,
26
29th September, 1931.
The Right Honourable,
Sir P. Cunliffe Lister;
President,
Board of Trade, (Marine Department),
LONDON.
Sir,
I have been directed by the Management Committee of this Guild and have the honour to place before you for attention and redress, a very grave miscarriage of justice which took place at the Harbour office, Hongkong, on the 29th July 1931, when the Harbour Master, Comdr. G.F. Hole, R.N., (Rtd), sitting as Marine Magistrate, pronounced sentence on Comdr. T. Pritchard, R.D., R.N.R.; Guilty, Fined (✅ 25.-) Twentyfive Dollars or in default two weeks with Hard Labour, because he being in command of the British Twin Screw Steamer "Sui Tai", did on the 26th July 1931, cross ahead of the Yacht "Tavy II", which was in charge of the Assistant Captain of H.M. Dockyard, Lt. Comdr. Addington, accompanied by Engineer Comdr. Docksey and the Deputy Harbour Master, Comdr. J.B. Newill, D.Š.0., R.N., (Rtd.), the last named officer was a guest.
The Yacht "Tavy II" belongs to the Ward-room officers of H.M.S. "Tamar", this vessel being the depôt vessel of the China Station, and permanently at Hongkong.
The British Twin Screw Steamer "Sui Tai", is a passenger and cargo vessel of the River Steamer type on the daily run from Hongkong to Macao and back, leaving Hongkong every morning, and returning in the evening; this vessel is about 1,200 tons gross register 238 feet long 30 feet beam and 10 feet mean draft with a speed of ten knots.
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A copy of the official Redord of this Case is enclosed for information.
Commander T. Pritchard, R.D., R.N.R., is an Officer with exemplary character with a remarkable record in the Royal Navy and the Royal Naval Reserve having thirty two (32) years experience as an Officer, and shipmaster.
It certainly appears questionable that this Case should have been brought by one Marine Magistrate Commander J.B. Newill, D.S.O., R.N., (Rtd), Deputy Harbour Master, who was a guest on the Yacht, to be tried by another Marine Magistrate, the Harbour Master Commander G.F. Hole, R.N.,(Rtd) and witnessed by another Naval Officer.
Commander T. Pritchard had no witnesses, he being in charge of the bridge at the time of the occurrence.
With the volume of expert opinion at the command of this Guild, it is considered, that had the Yacht "Tavy II" and s/s "Sui Tai" been in the position as given in the official Record
there/