Suppose he had a Ship of War stationed there?
- I think that might prevent those Acts of Insubordination on the Part of British Crews; but that would not stop those of Americans, who visit it in as great Number as the British.
Can you state any other Mode which would have the Effect?
- The only Way I can think of is to colonize the Islands. There is no Union among the Chiefs; there is no supreme Authority. I believe the Natives are friendly to it.
By colonizing you mean depriving the Natives of all sovereign Authority?
- I think they are willing to yield that up; they would wish to have some Laws laid down by which they might be themselves protected; they would not be disposed to interfere with it.
You mean that the Laws should extend over the whole Island?
- Yes.
Less than that will not repress those Evils?
- I think not.
Has the Master of a Whale Ship any more Authority over his Men than the Master of any other Ship?
- No.
The whole Crew of a Whale Ship has, by some Arrangement, an Interest in the Produce?
- They have a Share in the Net Proceeds.
Have you found the New Zealand Seamen alive to their own Interests in that respect?
- Quite so.
Capable of understanding the Bargains made?
- Quite so.
Have you not the Power, when your Captain comes to England, and reports that any of the Men have been guilty of great Crimes, to punish them by stopping their Pay?
- There is a great deal of Difficulty in that; I do not know that we have ever been able to put it into operation. We had an Instance some Years ago which did not arise from not having Power. In the Vessel alluded to the Men flogged the Captain, and the Mates and the Captain would not punish them. They succeeded in making the Voyage afterwards. I mention that merely to show the Conduct of the Crews.
In point of fact are not Captains very often on those Occasions, even if they have any summary Power given to them, afraid to act, fearing that the Crew will run away with the Ship?
- Yes.
Do you think that if an Act of the Imperial Parliament were to declare that if any Crew of any Ship bearing the Flag of Great Britain were to be guilty of any atrocious Acts you could, when they came to England, mulct them of the whole of their Pay or their Property, or what they claimed for the Voyage, that would be efficient?
- I think that would be efficient.
In point of fact would not such a Regulation prevent the Crews of British Ships, not only from committing those Outrages in New Zealand, but in all the other Islands where they might touch?
- I think it would, certainly.
As it is now those Laws are not very clearly understood, or perhaps not very well defined?
- Certainly, they are not so; at least the Captains continually complain that they have not sufficient Power over their Crews.
