To the Editor of the "Norra-Carva Datty News."
Sim,—As an institution that concerns a large section of this community, I would with your permission, draw attention to certain requirements in the Imperial Maritime Customs Service. The Customs service was established nearly fifty years ago, and it is surprising that two such necessary appointments as a senior chief examiner and a superintending engineer have not been mad As a general rule, the men in charge of these departments have not been brought up in that particular business and. therefore, can know nothing of the work or requirements of that particular branch.
At present an examiner is under the control of a " Tide surveyor" who, in nine cases out of ten has never been an examiner himself and knows nothing of his duties. Why not separate the two branches and train men for each? This change would remove one source of dissatisfaction in the service and give satisfaction to all concerned. The next point is the appointment and promotion of engineers and officers in the Revenue Cruisers, who are under, or supposed to be under, the control of the Coast Inspector.
"As far as the officers are concerned, they are under the control of men who have been officers themselves and know what is required of them, but with the engineers it is otherwise. Several months ago, there was a reduction made in -the salary of second engineers and this was tacked on to the salary of the chief officer, and naturally, this has caused some {ll-feeling between the two departments.
With a superintending engineer, such a thing could not have happened, and it is poor consolation for men of many years' service to be told that they can seck employment elsewhere if not satisfied. 'The engineers are. poorly paid considering the time they have to wait for promotion, and compared with engineers on the China coast their position is not an enviable one. After six years' service, an engineer on the coast has reached the top of his profession, whereas an engineer in the Customs cruisers may serve that time as third engineer and then bequiteuncertain as to promotion, considering the fact that outsiders" have been engaged as second engineers without any previous service, The appointment of a superintending engineer would be beneficial to the Service and to the Engineering Staff, and it is surprising that such an appointment has not already been made.
Thanking you in anticipation for insert ing this in your valuable columns, Tam, etc., Ix Nuce.
6th January.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.