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There was a definite lack of incentive to be troublesome for the benefit of the Port in otner words their present job suffered for their prospective one. It followed that successors, Imowing previous schemes had been allowed to fizzle out were encouraged in a policy of laisser faire for their short term of office. This would be disheartening and a check on the initiative and consequently on the efficiency of the whole Port staff both senior and junior.
Development of the Port. This would be more likely to
be proceeded with on propertly regulated lines and its various adjuncts would be better oo-ordinated to smoothly working service, if it were regarded as essential that its affairs should be in the hands of experts with prospective long terms in the Department, where improvements installed by them would be proved to the advantage of the Port under their own administration.
To emphasize the stultifying effect of lack of a settled policy in Harbour matters I quote a case in my experience, where an owner of a valuable undeveloped marine lot has been unable to bring any of his schemes for its improvement to fruition because of four factors depending on
(a) Old 75 years lease. Terms of renewal undecided
by Government until recently. Government schemes mooted but still in abeyance.
(b) Government scheme to fill in his sea frontage
by reclamation has been proposed.
(c) Silting of frontage allowed to continue possibly
with (b) in mind.
(a) Government scheme for great new arterial road to
Canton which proposes to cut through his lot.
In consequence his two piers have fallen into disuse and the development of the site whether in Marine Godowns, Factory buildings or flats cannot be planned.
Harbour Police.
I can see no advantage in a division of responsibilities here and believe shore and harbour police should be interchangeable even if this might lead to less efficient work through lack of experience. Change of personnel would be a preventive to irregularities.
Finance.
It is recognized that Harbour facilities are of the utmost importance to the Colony but there is no certainty that revenues derived from the Port will not at present be diverted to objects other than the maintenance of the Port at the highest degree of efficienoy by timeous spending, in development and the most modern equipment.
The Port Authority touches the outside world more closely
than any purely domestic Government Department and, like a business firm, is affected by the competition of others for instance the neighbouring Port of Manila with its modernised equipment.
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(Continued)