appear to them to be unjust, when the situation is viewed
from both sides of the question. It is admitted that
smuggling is contrary to Customs regulations, but until
the present high Tariff came into force smuggling was
eliminated and preventive measures taken by the Company's
officers appeared to be sufficient to cope with the evil.
The steamers carry six foreign officers, a purser staff
and a compradore staff, all of whom under Company's
regulations search their respective departments at least
once between Hongkong and Canton and whatever goods are
seized are handed over to the Customs authorities on
arrival.
Moreover seizure money is paid to the Company's
officers making the seizure. It will readily be under-
stood that there is every inducement for the officers
on the Company's vessels to do their utmost to make
seizures and the Company think that the officers in
question do their very utmost to prevent the carriage
of smuggled goods and offer their ready assistance to
Customs officials who may come aboard. Whether this
assistance is appreciated by the Customs Authorities
or not is not known, but the fact remains that little or
no credit seems to be given to the Company's officers
and in a very few instances only has an original fine
been reduced.
The Company add that whenever culprits responsible
for smuggling can be apprehended every endeavour is made
to collect the fine from the member of the crew responsible.
But a large fine, however, is impossible to collect from a
member of the crew, resulting in the Company being forced
to make payment themselves. This point has been made with
the Customs Authorities time and time again, but the fines
continue
49