831
*
of Examiners, may then be not unreasonably regarded in the light of a personal allowance for proven efficiency in Chinese studies: in which case the salaries fall within the scope of the scheme for general increase, more especially so when it is seen that the initial salary now is the same as it was in 1875.
15. The maximum annual salary $2280 which all Assistant masters are now entitled to, is reached at the end of eight years. This scheme has only come into force during the current year. Had it been rejected, then on the basis of $1800 ($1440 salary and $360 house allowance) as given in 1875, we should have been entitled to claim the 35% increase, and thus on permanent appointment at the end of three years' probation should be entitled to an annual salary of $2430.
16. We further beg to point out that the maximum monthly salary of $190 according to Mr. Wright's scheme, is altogether insufficient for a married officer of this Department to live as becomes his position: no assistance is now given by Government in the shape of passage money when on leave, the salary, on account of the increased cost of living, allows an officer neither to put by anything towards passage home nor to save anything to meet those many contingencies which every family ought to be in a position to provide for. It is for reasons such as these that, in the past, masters have been driven to seek outside work in order to make these provisions: and such extra labour must be more or less detrimental both to legitimate work in College and to health.
17. The Table marked "A" gives the amount of salary that will be received by First Class Clerks in other Departments, under the new scheme,