497
8.
From whatever point of view these
figures are considered it cannot be questioned that there
has been a heavy fall in the purchasing power of Sterling
Salaries in the last few years and it could scarcely be
expected that this fall should be without its effect on
the efficiency of the Service generally. Apart from
general dissatisfaction several cases have already occurred
in which good men have been lost to the Colony by the
unattractiveness of the present outlook.
9.
Since the Memorials above dis-
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-cussed were submitted, I have received Despatch No. 236
of the 26th. November, 1906, in the 4th. paragraph of which
Your Lordship regrets being unable to reconsider the
decision that measures of relief were unjustifiable and
unnecessary at the present time and goes on to state that
"in any case the fact that in spite of economy of Public
Works the estimated revenue for 1907 barely covers the
estimated expenditura is sufficient reason against any
general increase in salaries". In this connection I would
point out that the Estimates were drawn up on the basis of
a two shilling dollar and that the current rate is now
over two shillings and two and
a half pence so that
unless