CO129-534-3 Report of Retrenchment Commission 4-5-1931 - 19-2-1932 — Page 103

HARBOUR DEPARTMENT REPORT.

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103

The staff of the Harbour Department, particularly as

regards the Europeans, has grown considerably within the last

five years, and whilst the Commissioners fully recognize the

desirability of efficiency, they also realize that there is a

point where efficiency becomes uneconomical, and in their

opinion this point has been passed. There is moreover the

danger that too rigourous regulations may discourage shipping

from using the port.

2.

The executive of the department consists of the

Harbour Master, the Deputy Harbour Master and the Assistant

Harbour Master. Prior to 1925 there was a Harbour Master and

Assistant Harbour Master. The Commissioners are not satisfied

that the posts of both Deputy and Assistant Harbour Master

are necessary, and they recommend that they be re-amalgamated

into one post; leave requirements notwithstanding. The

Harbour Master should be relieved of a certain amount of work

by the transference to the Police Court of all non technical

cases, which at present come before him as Marine Magistrate.

In 1923 there were in all twenty three clerks, none

of whom were European. In 1931 the authorised establishment

consists of five European clerks, one Stenographer and thirty-

five clerks and shroffs. Such a large increase is not in

3.

the opinion of the Commissioners justified. Of the five

Europeans two are in the Harbour Office proper, one in the,

Government Marine Surveyors' Office, one in the Shipping Office,

and one vacant post. The Commissioners consider that the

Stenographer is unnecessary and that one European clerk in

the Harbour Office and one in the Government Marine Surveyors'

Office, making a total of two European clerks, to be quite

sufficient for the work to be done. Reductions should also be