CO129-490 - Public Offices - 1925 — Page 654

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Some armed protection would still be necessary on

board and a proper system of signals to attract the attention of the patrols whilst passing through the intervals between patrol vessels instituted for use in case of need.

One great source of weakness in all attempts to deal The bands with internal piracy is the personnel of the ships. of the Captain should be strengthened as much as possible and It is criminal to trust the inefficient officers got rid of. lives of passengers to officers who are not always in a fit Similarly state to deal with any situation that may arise.

the crews should be carefully picked and a proper system of discharge books instituted with a certain system of identification. The compradores have a great deal too much control over matters which should be in the captains hands and the captains' tenure of their appointments on the second class steamers is far too precarious to expect a really efficient and suitable officer to accept command of such steamers.