A.
Q.
A.
Q.
8
-
Yes.
Did you take the phrase "chuck them overboard" literally?
Natually not.
233
A.
Q.
You did not expect to see them lifted up by the pants and chucked over-
board then?
No.
You think my orders would be fully complied with if these persons, after
they were found to be unauthorised persons on board, were simply ordered
to leave the ship?
A. Might I answer that in my own way? It seemed to me that the method of
giving that order to your subordinate was such as might create trouble.
Previous to my going on board I had heard Captain Thomas of the American
President Line instruct or rather he called down from the upper to the
lower gangway "stevedores go on board"; he also told his men to see
that all the men produced their passes. When I heard Captain Thomas
instruct his men, I turned to Captain Thomas and I said "have you got
authority of the Immigration Department that they should go on board?"
and he said "yes". What I was afraid of was if these stevedores, who
are a pretty tough lot, had received official instructions to go on
board and each man had received his pass, and they were stopped or
someone touched them, it might have led to trouble. It has happened on
previous occasions, though not with the Immigration Office, but with the
police and watchmen.
then
Q. Was I, as far as you know, within hearing when these orders were given
by Captain Thomas or at the subsequent conversation between Captain
Thomas and yourself?
A.
No, you were not present, you were inside.
Q. You have no reason to know I had knowledge of such orders or that these
people had such permits?
A.
No I did not know anything about that.
Q.
You have already said I am responsible for seeing unauthorised persons
likely did not board the ship; so even if the stevedores were tak to create
trouble when refused permission to go on board the ship, you will admit
it was the duty of all my officers of my department to keep them off?
Yes.
A.
Q.
Even at the expense of trouble)
A.
Yes.
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