19.
year, leaving a balance of $180,000 for 1935.
406
It will be observed under "Mercantile Marine Office" that it has been found necessary to create a new post of Assistant Shipping Master while the Chinese Head Clerk (Class I) who retired in May of this year after thirty-four years service has not been replaced. The application to the Colony of the provisions of the Merchant Shipping (Safety and Load Line Conventions) Act 1932 is expected to add considerably to the duties and responsibilities of the officer holding the post of Deputy Shipping Master, and it is essential that a qualified officer should be available to act for the Deputy Shipping Master during the latter's absence on leave. It has been possible in the past to dispense with such relief by means of the temporary appointment of a retired Master Mariner resident in the Colony whose services are no longer available or by the secondment of a Boarding Officer. The Staff of Boarding Officers has, however, been reduced by one as a result of the adoption of a recommendation of the Retrenchment Commission and
it can no longer supply the necessary relief.
In view of the defalcations at the Government
Gunpowder Depot at Green Island it has been found neces- sary to put a more responsible officer in charge and an officer on a sterling scale replaces the locally recruit- ed officer who absconded.
(B) Air Services.
The Government, after careful consideration,