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Public Works Department.
The reason Mr. Franco has been recommended for such a much larger in- crease than Mr. Souza is evidently on account of his longer service.
I think they should be put on the same footing. I have put them in Class V of the Classification.
The Committee recommend that 3 overseers should get $1,800 a year, 2 $1,680, and 7 $1,440. As regards the 3 who appear in the Estimates at $960 two of these appointments were held when the Committee prepared their Schedule at the reduced salaries of $600 and $720 by Messrs. Ley Kum (wrongly described as a Water Inspector) and Simmons, who were appointed on probation on the reduced salaries, while one of the posts was vacant. The salaries of these 3 posts may remain at their present figue. It is necessary to point out that the salaries on the Estimates of the posts held by Messrs. J. F. Abraham (foreman) and R. C. Witchell (Water Inspector) are respectively $240 and $720. They were also appointed on probation on the lower salaries mentioned in the Schedule of the Committee. Mr. Witchell's chair allowance has hitherto been paid out of the vote for Water Works.
The custodian of the Recreation Ground has hitherto been paid out of the vote "Maintenance of Recreation Ground." The salary will be recommended to be increased to $720 in the Estimates for 1901.
The caretakers at Shau-ki-wan and Aberdeen Water Works and watchmen at Lai-chi-kok have hitherto been paid out of the votes for Maintenance of Water Works at Shau-ki-wan and Aberdeen and out of the Miscellaneous vote for New Territory.
Post Office.
The senior clerk has not been mentioned by the Committee. I think the salary (seeing that a house allowance is attached to it, and that, when the new Post Office is built the officer will have free quarters) will do as it stands at present. But if a classification of salaries is adopted he should be put on an incremental scale in Class III. The Acting Postmaster has recommended that the. salary should be $1,560 rising to $1,920.
The Acting Postmaster recommends and I strongly endorse his recommenda- tion that the salary of the Accountant be placed on an incremental scale. The post is a very important one and the increments will serve to keep a good clerk in the post. Mr. Lewis recommends that the salary should rise from $1,920 to $2,400 by $60 yearly. For an Accountant the salary is by no means too high. Mr. Reed might begin at $1,920 on 1st January next.
Mr. Lewis also recommends that the salary of the Superintendent of the Money Order Office should rise by the same increments to $2,400 and I agree with him. He only draws house allowance, while assisting in performing the duties of the Assistant Postinaster General. I think Mr. Dixon might draw the max- imum from the 1st January next.
The Superintendent Registration Branch draws $15 house allowance which was attached to the post when filled by a European. His pay is now $1,800 and Mr. Lewis recommends that it should rise to $2,160. I think the house al- Jowance should be amalgamated with salary and the salary made $1,800 rising to $2,100 by $60 biennially.
Deputy Superintendent Registration Department.
Mr. Lewis recommends that the salary should rise to $1,440 as the post is an important one. I think if it rises to $1,080 by $60 biennially it should suffice.
Third Marine Officer.
To this officer has been allotted the salary of $900 per annum appearing on the Estimates for the year and which was not drawn by any one. Mr. Lewis recommends that he now draw $900 and sea allowance to make the difference between his salary and that of the other Marine Officers less pronounced. 1 see no reason to disturb the existing salary, unless the Classification is adopted.
The Acting Postmaster recommends that the maximum salary for the re- mainder of the staff be $960 instead of $810 per annum as recommended by the
Committee.