CO129-573-1 Vacancy for Deputy Shipping Master in Mercantile Marine office of the Harbour Department 13-4-1938 - 18-1-1939 — Page 30

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Eventually, the then Hon. Harbour Master, the late Commander

C.W.Beckwith was asked by the Secretary of State for the Colonies

to reply to the following question:-

"Were there not, at the time of the appointment any unemployed certificated ranks of the Merchant Service available who could have been considered. " ?

It is understood that the nature of the then Hon. Harbour Master's

reply was on the lines that:-

"There were unemployed certificated ranks of the Merchant Service available, but not a suitable one.

The matter thereupon closed with the exception that it

is within the recollection of the writer that Government gave an

assurance that there would not be a repetition of such a case.

I am uncertain as to whether this assurance was confirmed in writing

(as I had then left the Colony for Shanghai, but I do know it was

tendered orally to Captain T.T.Laurenson and Mr. W. J. Stokes, the then

local respective Secretaries of the China Coast Officers Guild and

The Marine Engineers Guild of China.

Some years later (between 1925 and 1927) the present

augmented service of Boarding Officers came into being and it is

the position that the officers attached to this Department are all

in the possession of the qualifications of a Master Mariner.

It has recently come to the knowledge of these Guilds

that a candidate for the impending post of Deputy Shipping Master

is at present holding the position of Chief Inspector of Junks and

Cargo Boats. It is further a fact that this official has no

experience whatsoever in the Merchant Service and was, prior to

his appointment as Third Boarding Officer in May, 1923, a Police

Constable.

The writer hereof recently called on the Hon. Harbour

Master with reference to this impending appointment and was given

to understand that it was always the wish and intention of that official to recommend for the prospective vacancy as Deputy Shipping Master, an officer who had the requisite experience in the Merchant

Service, who also held the necessary qualifications and who therefore

by reason of such, was fully competent to perform the duties.

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