CO129-379 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1911 [8-9] — Page 159

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a Chinese-speaking Officer, (including as it did the control

of Chinese Distilleries on land), but in recommending to you

that this Sub-department should be practically independent of

the Harbour Department I was influenced by the very strong

though private representations made to me by the Chairman of

the Chamber of Commerce and others, who urged upon me that if

the Harbour Master were in any way concerned in the collection

of these duties there would be great friction, and in fact the

duties themselves would be opposed on these grounds. On the

other hand I believe that Commander Taylor has taken an

immense amount of private interest, and has devoted himself

with great energy to the compilation of statistics regarding

Imports and Exports, and to the affording of information to

enquirers. (d). Finally in regard to the conduct of the

Marine Magistrate's Court, I found it necessary to direct

that a large number of cases which were not in any way technic-

-al should be left to the Police Courts, as it was represented

to me that on the one hand the Harbour Master devoted an undue

proportion of his time to Court work, and on the other hand

that his sentences were unduly severe.

3.

These 4 branches cover a great part of

the work of the Harbour Office and in regard to his duties

afloat,