CO129-490 - Public Offices - 1925 — Page 45

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continuing on the Committee and that if wider disqussion which such bodies contemplated was not to be allowed it would be better if their represe tutives should withdraw from the Committee and go thoroughly into the matter themselve and submit a minority report. At the adjourned meeting of the Committee the Chairman again made it clear that the wider consideration was outside the scope of the Committee and the signtories hereto accordingly withdrew.

Although both the Shipowners and the Personnel on the ships from the outset have realized the many defects of the existing Ordinance they have unquestionably given the system more than a fair trial. They cannot, however, contime to willingly subscribe to a system whion from experience they are convinced is wrong.

TH 3 1 EGULATIONS.

it is strongly urged that it is the province

of the davy to protect commerce particularly British commerce against

Under the hegulations the the depredations of pirates. responsibility for the defence of the local Mercantile Marine is

The idea of a thrown upon the owners and the officers of each vessel. merchant ship of the class plying in the Canton Delta or on the coast having "a citadel fortified garrisåned defended" (vide keport of Sui an piracy Comission) is us impracticable as it is absurd. It is accepted us axiomatic that it is the duty of the master and his officers to defend their ship but it is submitted that adequate protection from piratical attacks from within the ship is utterly impractic..ble in the cure of vessels employed on the trades in question. Vessels constructed for commercial purposes to carry passengers and curgo from one port to another cannot be converted into fortresses. it is common ground that the element of surprise

The most is always inevitably present in the cuse of such attack a. that can be hoped for or attempted is the defence of the bridge and engine rooms for a Bufficient time to enable the offloors to send out distress si/male from the bridge. The finding of the Commission appointed to en uire into the "sui an" Piracy goes to show that if the then Piracy Prevention Regulations had been carried out to the

letter

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