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It is hardly possible that any Constable remitted half his pay averaged only $2,000 a year.
Still, those who do remit, or who would remit if they could do so without loss, have a grievance. So also have those who are saving money and intend to leave the Force at the end of 5 or 10 years' service. For they see their savings exposed to the continual risk of serious diminution, unless they intend to invest them here. A man who has saved $960 could say that he possessed £200. Today he possesses only £152, and what his savings may be worth in 4 years' time it is impossible to say.
Secondly. Should anything be done, and, if so, what to remove this grievance? (a) It is open to the Government to inform the Police that they entered into an agreement with their eyes open and must abide by it. For they are not even being held to their original contract with the Crown Agents. Those terms have been revised, and they themselves have voluntarily accepted the arrangement on which they are paid.
Nevertheless, looking to the desirability of securing content in the Force by any reasonable concession, and to the fact that Government could not possibly refuse to recognise a fall in the value of the dollar which should really lessen its local value; looking, moreover, to the idea the men have got that their pay should be £100 a year each, we think it would be desirable to finally remove the grievance complained of, if possible.
The question then arises how to do so.
(b) Mr. Deane's plan of adjusting the Police pay annually according to the mean annual rate of exchange would be very expensive, and would lead to applications from the rest of the Service for a similar concession.