The appointment of a correspondence clerk was recommended in my Despatch No. 355 of the 8th December, 1899, but to that Despatch you replied on the 2nd February, 1900, saying that you could not sanction the proposal unless you were assured, not only that it was absolutely necessary, but also that no further increases of the Staff of the Post Office would be suggested for some time.
In my Despatch No. 84 of the 9th March, 1900, I had the honour to inform you that I could give no assurance as to further increase of Staff and suggested that it would be advisable for you to discuss this question with Commander Hastings on his arrival in England.
The Postmaster-General called at the Colonial Office accordingly and understood at the interview, which was accorded to him, that all his recommendations had been approved, and on that understanding wrote his report to the Colonial Office dated the 25th February, 1901.
It is, however, the case that a correspondence clerk at a salary of $80 a month rising incrementally to $100 and also the 4 other clerks asked for at a monthly salary of $40 have not yet been obtained. The Postmaster-General reports that the appointment of these clerks is an urgent necessity and desires authority to engage them locally, the correspondence clerk at once, and the 4 other clerks from the 1st of next January at latest. I concur in the opinion of the Postmaster-General that these appointments are indispensable and I shall, therefore, be glad if you authoriz...