200
(2)
of the members of the Chinese staff. The Chinese clerk gets a stipulated increment of $5 per month. The compradore is in every respect more worthy of it on account of his long service and more arduous duties. I find that it is imperative to have a Head Postman who will supervise and teach the almost new staff of postmen, we have at present, their proper beat and duties. It will greatly relieve the pressure on the compradore and I cannot find a more suitable person than the mail man who, on account of his seniority and experience, has a great influence with the men. If my suggestion to become a subscriber to the Local Post Office be approved two of the junior postmen can be detailed to assist the mail man in receiving and despatching mails, and on occasions when it is absolutely necessary that the mail man should himself take delivery of mails, such as by contract packets, his work of closing mails in the office can be performed by the Marine Stamper on shore. The two senior postmen should be encouraged to stay in the service by the prospect of a higher scale of pay than the rest who are entirely new men.
(Sd.) H. Dixon.
Acting Postmaster.
26/9/1901.