Enclasure
118
the Assistant Masters is
very
small, and that their prospects
of promotion
are at the same time very remote, and I beg therefore to support the prayer of the Head Master.
4.
I beg to refer to my despatch No. 298 of 8th September last on this subject.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your Most Obedient Humble Servant,
[Signature: likely "C. Mhurch" or similar, though 'Yout Mhurch Lir PEOP' is unclear; a reasonable guess might be a name like 'C. Murdoch']
C. Love Central School 5483 Hong Kong
REG? 21 MAX 87 25 January 1887
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of the Reply of your Excellency to my memorial Full Jay, about the Four Month's Vacation Leave on full pay at the end of six years' service, formerly enjoyed by Masters of this school; and beg respectfully to submit the following reasons for a reconsideration of this decision.
1. The Despatch says that the Secretary of State is unable to regard the amount of leave, which "might be allowed to officers under the Rules in force, at the time of their appointment as a 'vested interest.' I beg respectfully to point out that it is not the question of twelve months' leave that is under consideration, but what part of that twelve months shall be allowed full pay; whether two months' full pay shall be substituted for four months, as enjoyed by masters at their time of signing agreements; and wherever money value (as in the case of Passage Money and Family Remittance) is concerned, such have always been considered a vested interest.
2. The only objection offered by the Despatch, is that masters might get seven or eight months' leave in two years. As opposed to this, is the fact that during the 25 years in which the school has been in existence, no masters have taken leave beyond...
The Right Honourable
Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State
for the Colonies.