CO129-505-11 Deleterious Drugs Ordinance 1927- proposed amendments 27-10-1927 - 9-11-1927 — Page 4

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suspect that the drugs were there and that

reasonable supervision was exercised.

This seems elementary justice, but it is no

doubt a weakening of the existing law, and

pro tanto unfortunate at the moment when

ratification of recent agreements is under

consideration. Also there is something

in the point that Singapore as the gateway

to the East calls for special precautions.

Ev en so I do not see a Parliamentary

answer to further complaints about

prosecution of shipmasters for smuggling which they could not know of or prevent by

any reasonable care, and I think we are

bound to amend the Law."

Before, however, the paper was submited for

this decision Mr. Shipway was asked to search

Colonial legislation to see whether the offending

principle occurred elsewhere. In a minute

on Bushe

dated 6/9/26 you described the "offending

principle" as follows: -

"The point is whether there is any

other Colonial legislation making the

owners and master of a ship criminally

liable if prohibited drugs or other

contraband are found on board, unless they

prove that not only they but none of the

officers, servants, crew or persons

employed on board, had anything to do with

it."

on Bushe

M

Y reviewed Mr. Shipway's researches as

follows: -

"AS