CO129-534-3 Report of Retrenchment Commission 4-5-1931 - 19-2-1932 — Page 104

2.

15

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made in the Junior Clerical Staff.

generally elsewhere.

4.

This will be reported on

The Harbour Master gave it in evidence that the increase in 1930 in the number of Boarding Officers from five to seven was made, not at his request, but at the instance of the River

Steamers' Commission. It is recommended that the number of

five be reverted to.

5. A table is attached showing the amount collected in

licence fees for junks and cargo boats and the number of inspectors in each of the past ten years. To justify the

increases in the number of inspectors in 1926 and 1927 it was claimed that the appointment of these inspectors would more than pay for their salaries. The figures do not seem to bear out this claim. It was explained in evidence that had not the number of inspectors been augmented the revenue would have dropped owing to there being fewer large vessels in the waters of the Colony, and that the collection of fees from sampans and small craft was laborious and expensive. The Commissioners

consider that the infliction of severer penalties, such as confiscation of the offending owner's craft, for non payment of licence fees would lead to more prompt payment of fees, and so relieve the work of the inspectorate in rounding up defaulters. In any case the post of Chief Assistant

Inspector should be abolished.

6. The Government Marine Surveyors' department shows the

most notable increase in personnel. In 1923 the authorised

establishment of European Surveyors was four in 1925 it was

increased to six, in 1927 to eight, and it is now fourteen. There are two reasons for this. Firstly, understaffing. Witnesses both from the department itself and from shipping firms stated that the work in former years was 'skimpily' done.