CO129-336 - Governor Nathan & Public Offices - 1906 [11-12] — Page 638

Confidential

(Copy) M18883

630

visiting at 17 Lichfield Street, Walsall.

To the President of the Board of Trade

Sir,

Septr. 13 1906

C 0.

34782

20 SEP 06

I am glad to see that Seamen are to have a "mouth-piece" before a Shipping Master.

I have travelled much, as ships surgeon, & as Transvaal Government Superintendent of Chinese Coolies.

I have been 20 years in practice in England, & also at Convict Prisons, & in charge of Troops: I can hardly be a sentimentalist altogether! Yet the way in which civil matters between seamen & their employers are treated as criminal is quite outrageous to a civilian. Prisoners, soldiers, & lunatics are without exaggeration better able to have their side of the case put before a judge appointed; such as is the Shipping Master. Now for chapter & verse

In Hong Kong I have seen the Shipping Master (who is a Macao half-caste with a long finger nail) act, to put it mildly, hectoringly to the crews. In one case a captain (who had not been in those waters before & had to send home his crew of white men) got great trouble; He had not tipped the S.M., which (you will find on enquiry) is the usual thing. On the next transaction the tip made matters smooth. I don't mind the captains tipping the S.M. (who by that means holds an office he dare not lose)! China seems to insist on bribes! But I want crews watched in their rights when before him. I have never personally had trouble with crews.