CO882-(6-8) — Page 482

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

TELEC.O. 882

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8PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO

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come when Government should intervene in the working by the Tanjong Pagar Dock Company of those of its functions that carry with them onerous responsibilities to the port; and there have been advocates for the step that Government should, in its place, create a "Port Trust."

122. I hold views (and have in Singapore put them forward in writing) decidedly adverse to replacing the Tanjong Pagar Dock Company by what is, I believe, usually understood by the term "Port Trust." By that expression I mean what may be described as a "Port Trust" that would be managed and worked by a staff of Government officers pure and simple. To do that would, in my view, involve several serious drawbacks and disadvantages.

123. I have touched on this point (paragraph 121) merely by way of suggesting to the authorities several considerations, viz.:—

(a) That the community of Singapore has on this question made appeals

through the "Press."

(b) That these appeals have been founded on allegations in substance to effect that the present service of the Tanjong Pagar Dock Company is inefficient, and that the policy and management of that Company, as reflected from its present Directorate in Singapore, do not sufficiently consider and meet, nor adequately fulfil, its relationship and responsi- bilities to the port as a whole.

(c) That the gentlemen (or a majority of them) on the present Directorate of the Tanjong Pagar Dock Company in Singapore, do not, and cannot be expected to, voice the feeling and views on this subject of the free thinking members of the community in general; this because the former by reason of their relationship and position are under the necessity of reflecting and promoting views put upon them from London. (d) That if Government will concur in, and act upon, the views and suggestions I have ventured to put forward in this memorandum, there is good reason to anticipate that in that way it will come to acquire over the policy and operations of the Tanjong Pagar Dock Company a degree of control and direction that will better suit the conditions, circumstances. and needs of Singapore, than would the creation of a "Government Port Trust."

124.

In framing this memorandum I have not written of the Tanjong Pagar Dock Company as one quite devoid of monetary interest therein. I own shares in the Company, my own personal property, to the value of about £4,000. And I represent other shareholders owning many times more than that.

27753

No. 9.

JOHN ANDERSON,

(of Singapore.)

GOVERNOR SIR J. ANDERSON to MR. LYTTELTON,

(Paraphrase.)

(Received 7. 45 a.m., August 8, 1904.)

TELEGRAM.

[Answered by No. 19.]

I earnestly hope that you will not decide finally against principles of my proposals respecting Tanjong Pagar without allowing me an opportunity of replying to objections.

The feeling of the mercantile and shipping community in favour of Government control is very strong and general.

28121

MY DEAR SIR,

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No.. 10.

MR. J. ANDERSON to COLONIAL OFFICE.

(Received August 11, 1904.)

c/o Messrs. Guthrie and Company, Limited,

5, Whittington Avenue, Leadenhall Street,

London, August 10, 1904. As promised in my letter of 7th instant,* I now beg to hand you a confidential memorandum-bearing date 4th instant-that I have written on what I term:-

46

Irregularities in the Coal Trade of Singapore handled by the Tanjong Pagar

Dock Company, Limited."

It is marked to be treated as "Confidential," but I fully concur in its complete use being extended to the Governor of the Straits Settlements and his Executive Council (for the present, however, not beyond these).

you;

I have just received, and am much obliged for your note of 9th instant. Thank

I am a little better, but have still to keep my room.

Believe me, &c.,

C. P. Lucas, Esq., C.B.

(Confidential.)

Enclosure in No. 10.

JOHN ANDERSON.

THE TANJONG PAGAR DOCK COMPANY, LIMITED, OF SINGAPORE.

MEMORANDUM, dated August 4, 1904, re "Irregularities in the Coal Trade of Singapore, handled by the Tanjong Pagar Dock Company, Limited," by Mr. John Anderson, of Singapore, recently Chairman of Directors of above Company in Singapore (presently in London). (Confidential.)

c/o Messrs. Guthrie and Company, Limited,

5, Whittington Avenue, Leadenhall Street,

London, August 4, 1904.

1. On 22nd March, 1904, at the Annual General Meeting of the Tanjong Pagar Dock Company, held in Singapore, I publicly stated to the Shareholders as my opinion, based on long experience, that :-

2.

.

"In consequence of the position of Dictators' into which the London Consulting Committee have brought themselves, I not only assert that it has become necessary that that body be abolished, but I go even further, and say that the Directorate itself of this Company, if its business doings and affairs are to be conducted with less difficulty to the administration and management than is the case to-day, and with impartiality to all interests, will have to undergo a radical change in its constitution. Not only should there be no person a director of this Company who, in the conduct of its policy and affairs can be coerced by Seniors' in London-whether there is or is not a Consulting Committee there--but no man should be in the position of directing the affairs of this Company whose own business interests and those of the Company must frequently come into direct conflict and opposition. Most assuredly a director so situated cannot, no matter how high his principles, serve two masters," &c., &c.

In making this assertion I had, through my offices to the Company, had insight, behind the scenes, of features that could not well he openly dealt with from

the Chair" at a public meeting.

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