Sessional_Paper_1927 — Page 95

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No. 2

Estimated number of passengers carried each day.

Week-days.

Inward.

Outward,

Approx. 3,200 passengers.

Approx. 2,750 passengers.

Daily total.

Sundays.

No. 3

Approx. 2,500 passengers. Daily total.

Passengers carried by coasting steamers calling at ports within the Piracy

Daily total.

Approx. 2,300 passengers.

Daily total.

Zone.

Arrivals per Annum

Approx. 151,212 passengers.

Departures per Annum. Approx. 72,412 passengers.

No. 4

Steerage passengers only from and to Overseas Ports such as America, Java,

Singapore, etc.

Arrivals per Annum

Approx. 208,656 passengers.

Departures per Annum. Approx. 220,344 passengers.

There are various considerations which would have to be discussed such as the examination of Passengers arriving and departing on ocean going steamers, but I cannot see any real difficulty in establishing an organization which will be of material benefit to the Colony, not only in prevention of piracy, but in many other respects.

I appreciate that the proposal as put forward possibly goes beyond the scope of your reference, but at the same time other matters of importance are so interlocked with considerations of search that it is impossible to separate them.

"

Finally I would touch upon what I regard as a point of more than ordinary im- portance. The Commissioners will perhaps agree that it is more than likely that in years to come we shall from time to time have recurrences of labour troubles in the Colony. With the experience of 1922 and 1925 before us I would say that if we had had at that time, particularly in 1922, a central Depot where labour in the form of Strike-breakers could have been housed, fed and protected and kept immune from intimidation, it would have gone a long way to have kept the work of the Colony going, particularly in the Harbour. I consider therefore that some central Depot as is suggested, would in times of industrial unrest prove a valuable and suitable base or headquarters and would prove of inestimable benefit.

Your commissioners are so well versed in local conditions that it is only necessary for me to throw out the suggestion for them to grasp the far reaching advantages of the idea in view.

Will you kindly lay these views before the Commissioners with the assurance I shall be pleased to supplement same verbally should they desire.

Enclosing plans of the Depot in question,

I am, dear Sir,

Your obedient servant,

(Sgd.)

R. SUTHERLAND