COP Y.
Ro. 33.
Sir,
Enclosure.
455 14200
Education Department,
Hongkong, 13th. March, 1901.
I have already reported the arrival in the Colony of Mr. Bullin, the Assistant Master of the Reformatory. He is hardly the class of person I anticipated to see. The salary offered led me to believe some-one of the type of Trade. Warder in the Saol would accept the post and no doubt that was the intention of the Superintendent of Police in fixing the salary. Mr Bullin is a married man of 43, with a wife and a young adopt- ed child. According to his statement be was Superintendent of the Mile End Old Town Schools from 1898 to October, 1900 and previous to that for six years Superintendent of a private Institution called the Orphan Homes of Scotland at Bridge of Weir. He has also been business manager of a Training Home for girls, restaurants and mission-halls maintained I understand by Lady Ashburton. At Mile End, Mr. Bullia's salary was £100 a year with Board and Lodging and Mrs. Bullin's £40.
2.
It may be barely possible for Mr. Bullin if he observes the strictest economy to live on his salary, which with Exchange Compensation amounts now to $75 a month. But when the hot weather commences he will have to buy summer clothing of which he has none,and the allowance given him for furnishing ia insufficient. In fact in a few months time as far as I can see Mr. Bullin must be in debt and I do not see how he can ever get out of it.
3
Mr. Bullin has made no application for an increase of salary; perhaps he hardly realises his position. He has already spant the $75 allowed him for furnishing and has to show for it a bad and spring mattress, a dining table, washstand, dressing table, meat safe and commode and he now applies for a further $75. Is the Government to grant the $75 asked for or to wait until Mr. Bullin applies for an increase of salary before taking any further steps or to anticipate the application and grant him a small increase of salary at once.
4.
A manried man but without children and who
is well known to live very economically puts his monthly expen-
Jongurable
Stewart-Lockhart,C. X. 3.,
Colonial Secretary.
-diture
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