'Summary of correspondence relative to the administration of the Port of Basrah and measures for the control of the shipping traffic in Mesopotamia.' [‎15r] (29/134)

than it would be my fault if I were given command of a R. I. M. Transport from
here to Bombay and promptly ran her ashore.
3. In the early days of the Force when there was only one division, the trans
port work was not very heavy and the unloading of munitions and stores was a
comparatively easy tadv, but at the present time there is an amount of tonnage
coming in which would anywher? constitute a large port and it is necessary in
the interests of economy and efficiency to adopt the ordinary business methods
of Port Administration.
Control.
4. In my judgment the time has come for decentralisation and I should at once
relieve the P. M. T. 0. from a portion of his duties which mu^t from their unusual
nature be a burden to him. It is generally recognised that the business manage
ment of a Port or Shipping Company is entrusted to a different class of man to
that who so skilfully navigate the ships and for that reason you will never find the
Commander of a vessel appointed General Manager of the B. I. or P. & 0. or of
any of our great ports. It is merely a case of every man to his own trade.
o. I suggest that the P. M. T. 0. should continue to carry ont the usual duties
of a marine officer, i.e., the movement of vessels in and out, berthing, moving,
provkion of pilots and harbour-masters, etc., but that an independent officer
who I should style Traffic Superintendent.be appointed and make responsible for
the unloading of vessels, the despatch of goods to the various departments and
the wharfage arrangements.
6. I would explain there are points which arise in this connection in addition
to the actual unloading of the vessels.
There will be the most suitable 'arrangements for wharves and landing stages
apart from their actual construction, consultations with the Military Disembarka
tion Officer so as to fit in arrangements for moving troops with these for working
cargo and see that no unnecessary delay takes place, co-operation with Heads of
Departments in getting the boats discharged when they have left the ship and
many other points. It may be possible to let a contract for actually discharging
the sea transports, but I would point out that all contractors require supervision
and work first and foremost for their own pecuniary benefit. It is doubtful if any
contractor in Basrah will have sufficient labour to discharge say twelve transports
simultaneously or whether there will be sufficient country boats, and discrimination
and direction will be required.
7. I could name half a dozen men who are thoroughly conversant with the
whole of this branch of Port Work and there is in the Force in the person of Lieute
nant E, H. Kelling, I.A.R., an officer who in civil life was Traffic Manager for
the whole of the Port of Rangoon under my immediate direction and to whom
the business management of this port would present no difficulty.
8. In the matter of wharves and landing stages the usual arrangements is for
the Traffic Superintendent and Engineer to meet in consultation the Director
and decide upon what is required and the Director would report to his Board or
in this case to G. H. Q. Here, however, nothing of that nature has been done ;
the P. M. T. 0. has written Marine transport notes 1, 2, 4 and 426, but they are
so indefinite as to be quite useless for practical purposes. I think I may say the
only note attempting to deal in a comprehensive way with wharf accommodation
is that written by myself giving designs for wharves at Magill.
9. Another reason for decentralisation is that when an officer controls a num
ber of different departments of his own service he is apt, if he is of a sensitive nature
to try and protect them all from adverse criticism even at a loss of efficiency. For
example in the case of the " Havildar Custodian; police sergeant; jail or prison guard. " it so happened that I, mtich interested in
the discharge of my survey equipment and so very much upset when a portion of
it was returned to Bombay that I reported the matter at once to G. H. Q. but I
understand the " Havildar Custodian; police sergeant; jail or prison guard. " also took away 49 cases of stores consigned to the
Store-keeper, Marine Dockyard, and urgently required by that officer who reported
the fact that they had not been discharged to the P. M. T. 0. As, however, another
department of his was responsible for the mistake he was hardly likely to bring the
matter forward.
6687(w)AD * ' ^