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increases referred to in Major-General Black's despatch quoted above, and further recommends that in addition to such increases a rations' allowance of 60 cents a month per man be granted to the Chinese members of the Force in order that they may be placed on the same footing in this respect as the Indians who were recently granted such allowance and who have no stronger claim to it than the Chinese.
4. The grant of the proposed increase of the rates of pay of the Chinese Sergeant Interpreters and Constables would involve an extra expenditure of $2,570 per annum, and if rations' allowance is granted a further additional expenditure of $2,167 will be incurred. These figures do not, of course, provide for the additional Police Officers who may be required for the new territory.
5. The economies suggested in Major-General Black's despatch have in part been given effect to with satisfactory results, but until the Police requirements for the extended area of the Colony have been definitely ascertained, it is not proposed to show such economies by curtailing the existing provision in the Estimates. Similarly, the appointment of 5 additional Acting Chinese Sergeants recommended by Major-General Black may be allowed to stand over for the present.
6. I shall be glad to receive a favourable reply to this despatch by telegraph, in order that the Chinese Contingent of the Police Force may be brought up to strength as soon as possible, and that no difficulty may be experienced in