THE INSPECTION OF VESSELS.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 3 October 1901, Page 4

THE INSPECTION OF VESSELS.

Too much Dignity; Too little Tact,

(PEE PEESB ASSOCIATION.)

Wellington, This D,y. The report of Haseldon S.M., who is

the Commissioner to enquire into tho

complaints against, Dr James, tho port % Health Officer in Wellington, as to delays ia examining vessels an iving in Welling- ; - tanstates that Dr Jamos did all that w -.s of him in regard to tho G.M. but he blames the captain 1 plor not flying tho visiting flag. As to tho

case of the Monowai the tend of the report is that both James and Captain MacDonald stood too much on their dignity and both showed want of tact and want of knowledge of their powers. The captain has power in extreme case to use force to compel passengers to appear for inspection.

(ous OWN CORRESPONDENT ) The Pull Report. Wellington, This Day The report of Hasoldcn on the enquiry held by him into the alleged delays of inspection of the barque G. M. Tucker and Monowai have been forwarded to the Governor.

Mr Hasclden reports that ho deduces the following facts from the evidence :

That there was a feeling on the part of some passengers by various ships against tlie precautions taken by the authorities against the introduction of disease.

That on the part of Captain M’Donald of the Monowai, there was a feeling that Dr James had on a former occasion been wanting in courtesy to him. That there was on part of Dr James a feeling that the time had arrived when it was necessary to demonstrate to shipmasters and others the necessity for prompt attention to bis requirements when making an examination under the Public Health Act.

That Dr James was not well informed as to his powers or of the law, or of the powers and duties of the captain and oiliccrs of vessels in regard to himself or his duties.

.That Captain M'Donald held the erroneous opinion that ho had no power to compel passengers to submit to examination, and therefore that all he was required to do was to permit the health otlicer to examine the passengers and crew in any part of the vessel. Captain McDonald thought that if ho did not obstruct or prevent examination, he fulfilled his duty. In Hasclden’s opinion there was on both sides want of tact, and of any desire to conciliate.

Dr. James was wrong in leaving the ship at such short notice. Before taking the extreme step of leaving the vessel he should have given more time, and should have given more de iberatc notice (preferably in writing) of his intention to leave if the passenger was not produced. Captain MacDonald should have protested against James leaving the ship without examining the passenger and granting pratique. In the Commissioners opinion, as a matter of law, the captain of a vessel arriving in such circumstances as the Monowai arrived, has full power to compel passengers to attend for examination, and may, even in an extreme case, supply sufficient force to compel thorn to so attend.

In this case matters had not gone sufficiently far to justify the application of force to Chamberlain, but the captain should, in the interests of his owners, have assured Dr. James that lie would do all he could to produce Chamberlain, and have asked Dr. James to wait a little, and should have sent a peremptory message to Chamberlain and, failing compliance, should have gone hirr self and pointed out the consequences of such foolish conduct, and then, failing all peaceful means, might have forcibly compelled him to come up for examination. The. explanation of the whole difficulty, says Hasehleu, lies in tiic feelings I have mentioned as existing on both sides, and misapprehension of their respective rights and duties.

In regard to the G. M. Tucker, Hasclden reports that Dr. James made all reasonable arrangements for being apprised as early as possible of the arrival of the vessel. Ho arrived on board within an hour of the vessel dropping anchor, and made the necessary examination. No blame is attributable to Dr. James in this matter. The statement in (lie public press, alleging delay of two hours and impliedly censuring the Port Health Officer, was not justified by the facts.

The master of the G. M. Tucker was in fault in not flying the vi-iting flag, and in consequence, the reporter, who had gone on board shortly before Dr. James arrived, escaped the punishment for his broach of the Health Act.