I consider it wholly impracticable to abolish the Office without detriment to the service.
I may point out that the Office of Assistant Superintendent was abolished in 1879, and the useful one of Chief Inspector made in its stead.
I have under my Command men more than anumber to the European, Sikhs, and the duties that in the Army are carried out by the Paymaster, Adjutant, and Control Department, are carried out by my Deputy or by myself.
The Force is entirely self-contained. From the complex nature of the Force, the Control and requirements of men of three distinct nationalities have to be attended to, and the duties include those of land, water, and mounted Police; a body of men equal in average strength to a line regiment; viz, 678 men, Chinese 3 Coolies, one half of whom are armed, and for Officers, I have only one Deputy Superintendents and twelve Inspectors.
Whilst therefore internal economy and regulation of the Force is such as to require great care and exercise of discretion with fire-arms.