C.O. 10050/358
RECEIVED & ENCLOSURE 1
R 22 APR 9
MINUTE BY THE SUPT. OF VICTORIA GAOL.
Hon. Acting Col. Secretary.
It is now 12 months since I recommended in C.S.O.120/98 that the Indian Staff in this Gaol should be granted the privilege of remitting half their pay to India at the exchange of 44 cents to the rupee, a privilege that is enjoyed by the Indian Police and by all the Indian Troops in the Colony.
I reverted to the same subject in June and again in September of last year, but still no decision has been arrived at on this important question.
In June I pointed out that recruiting for the Gaol Staff was at a standstill, and that the pay of our Indian Warders was below the market rate for Indian labour in the Far East.
Recruiting was subsequently rendered more easy after the Indian Staff had been informed that the question of granting them the privilege referred to, was under the consideration of the Secretary of State, and at the present moment I am fortunate in having the Indian Staff up to its full strength, but I have been obliged to engage practically any Indian who offered his services, and I have several men whom I would not keep if I could replace them.
There