I recommended the amalgamation of a clerk to the appointing authority, subject to the clerk drawing a lower salary than that drawn either by the Accountant or Correspondence Clerk. This seems to have been entirely overlooked, and indeed I see no provision in the draft estimates for 1895 for the appointment of such a clerk.
At the time I made my recommendation, I fully realized the fact that if Mr. Wood undertook the duties of both offices and exercised careful and proper supervision over the whole of the work done in both the Accounting and Clerical branches, he would have little or no time to devote to the matters of detail he had, as Accountant only, performed in the post. I therefore recommended that on the amalgamation of the offices, another clerk should be appointed.
From what I have seen since my return, I am fully convinced that if the records and accounts of this Department are to be kept up-to-date, the necessity of which no one will dispute for one moment, another clerk should be appointed with as little delay as possible, and due provision should be made in the Estimates for next year.
On reference to my confidential report, it will be seen that it was proposed that the salary of this clerk should be $1,200 a year, my idea being that this figure would secure an intelligent European of some experience.
I submit for the approval of His Excellency the Governor that:
(a) Another Clerk be appointed.
(b) That the salary be fixed at $1,200 per year.
(c) That applications be invited as soon as possible.
I have &c.
St. Francis St. Cooper,
Director of Public Works.
The Colonial Secretary.
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