21 February 1978
(icular)
MAINM of money to maintain Government Houses is a source of embarrassment to Governers in some Dependent Territories and can undo much of the work he has put into gaining the confidence of these politicians. This is partly so in those Dependent Territories which are, to a considerable extent, budget-sided and where, in the words of one Governor "a coat of varnish on a chair deprives a school child of milk”.
5. Dependent Territory Governments can reasonably be expected to make modest but adequate provision in the annual estimates to cover the cost in Government House of the following items:
Staff wages and uniforms
Utilities (slectricity, water, etc)
Telephones Grounds
Incidentals
However, in the small budget-aided Dependent Territories there seems a not unreasonable case to find funds from the UK to cover modest costs of maintenance of Government House and its gramds to a reasonable standard. This maintenance might cover the building and all movable furniture, fittings and equipment (see paragraph 2 above). It would cover r wiring for example, all structural repairs where necessary and replacement of furniture, furnishings and equipment and, in exceptional circumstances, requirements at Government House arising from an internal security problem, It would not extend to replacements, e.g. electric light bulbs, cleaning materials, tap washers, plugs and similar incidentals which would be the responsibility of the occupant.
6. An assesment of the funds required are needed before I shall be I can approach the appropriate authority here. glad of your general views on this question, together wi th an estimate of the annual cost to cover items referred to at paragraph 5 above. It would be helpful if you could give a breakdown of the cost into specific items (building, furniture, fittings, ste). I do not know whether the condition of some buildings have reached a stage of dilapidation where major renovations may be required to bring them up to a reasonable standard. If so, please let me have separate details with an estimate of the cost.
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