2.0.
50070
Straits
nclosures
$56.
343
Mr. G. M.Young of Messrs. Butterfield and Swire and Mr. R.~~ Sutherland of Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Co., were appointed as a Sub-Committee, to give expert advice on technical ship- -ping matters and to act as Colonel Thomson's representatives.
8.
The time at Colonel Thomson's disposal was too brief to enable him to inaugurate the scheme for the local control of shipping, outlined in your Despatch No. 235 of the 19th. October; but it was put in hand immediately after his departure. For this purpose the Sub-Committee was enlarged by the appointment to it of Mr. Fletcher, and the title was chang -ed to that of Shipping Control Committee. Mr. Cary, expense accounts officer of His Majesty's Naval Yard, at the same time became Secretary, by the kind permission of the Commodore at a salary, payable by this Government, of 8200 a month. The attached copies of correspondence with Colonel Thomson shows the action that was taken to bring the scheme into working order.
9.
The scheme came duly into operation on the 15th. April, and it has been working smoothly. Its practical utility for the purpose of the Colony has already been ex- -emplified in connection with the diversion of tonnage on the advice of the Vital Requirements Committee, firstly to fetch coal for the Naval Establishments, and secondly to fetch sugar from Java, after Dutch vessels had ceased to call at this port. I am addressing you separately on this subject.
With regard to the telegrams exchanged
10.
with Colonel Thomson, which form the 5th. and 6th. enclosures in this Despatch, it must be remembered that the vessels brought under local requisition are mostly old and in more or less bad condition, having been discarded, at periods more or less remte, from the regular lines; with the result that the cost of repair and upkeep is proportionately
heavier
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