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Eventually, the then Hon. Harbour Master, the late Commander
C.W.Beckwith was asked by the Secretary of State for the Colonies
to reply to the following question:-
"Were there not, at the time of the appointment any unemployed certificated ranks of the Merchant Service available who could have been considered. " ?
It is understood that the nature of the then Hon. Harbour Master's
reply was on the lines that:-
"There were unemployed certificated ranks of the Merchant Service available, but not a suitable one.
The matter thereupon closed with the exception that it
is within the recollection of the writer that Government gave an
assurance that there would not be a repetition of such a case.
I am uncertain as to whether this assurance was confirmed in writing
(as I had then left the Colony for Shanghai, but I do know it was
tendered orally to Captain T.T.Laurenson and Mr. W. J. Stokes, the then
local respective Secretaries of the China Coast Officers Guild and
The Marine Engineers Guild of China.
Some years later (between 1925 and 1927) the present
augmented service of Boarding Officers came into being and it is
the position that the officers attached to this Department are all
in the possession of the qualifications of a Master Mariner.
It has recently come to the knowledge of these Guilds
that a candidate for the impending post of Deputy Shipping Master
is at present holding the position of Chief Inspector of Junks and
Cargo Boats. It is further a fact that this official has no
experience whatsoever in the Merchant Service and was, prior to
his appointment as Third Boarding Officer in May, 1923, a Police
Constable.
The writer hereof recently called on the Hon. Harbour
Master with reference to this impending appointment and was given
to understand that it was always the wish and intention of that official to recommend for the prospective vacancy as Deputy Shipping Master, an officer who had the requisite experience in the Merchant
Service, who also held the necessary qualifications and who therefore
by reason of such, was fully competent to perform the duties.
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