126 months I have lost exactly one third of the Chinese Staff of the Brigade by resignation and desertion, and another 4 men by dismissal due solely to the inferior quality of the men. When it is reflected that the Chinese Staff and one European Assistant Engineer form the only permanent Staff of the Brigade, the remainder of the Brigade being Policemen or others who merely lend their services on the occasion of a fire if they do not happen to be on duty, it is obvious that such wholesale changes in a Staff which should be well trained and accustomed to work together are simply disastrous to efficiency.
The City is increasing in size and in the value of its buildings and of their contents daily, and it will, I venture to submit, be true economy to make the small and after all very inexpensive Brigade that we have got, as efficient as possible.
It is with much reluctance therefore that I am compelled to recommend the following new scale of pay for the Chinese Staff of the Brigade :-
6 Stokers at $15 a month
...
2 Do. at $12 Do.
12 Firemen at $10 Do.
13 Do. at $9 Do.
? 4210 (48) or a total of $534 per annum.
total increase
I consider the increases in the wages