263077---
Mr Cox
I have spoken to you about this matter, but I fear you have not fully apprehended the circumstances. It was assumed that everybody was familiar with the troublesome little person.
The facts are these: Mr de Saussey was promoted to succeed Mr Hazeland, Deputy Registrar & Accountant, in 1902, on the recommendation of Sir W. J. Gascoigne, that he should be succeeded by a Cadet of good reputation & considerable legal knowledge.
Mr de Saussey discovered that Mr Dee-Jones, a schoolmaster's brother, had been allowed to act for four years as Deputy Registrar & Appraiser, a position regarded as higher, & the holder usually acts for the Registrar.
When Mr de Saussey was promoted to Registrar, on the retirement of Mr Eastern Dreyfus, I recommended Mr Kemp, then Second Police Magistrate, who had shown considerable aptitude for legal work.
I recommended him with confidence, saying "Mr Kemp is an officer of much greater natural ability than Mr W. Lee Jones, and therefore more fitted for the appointment." This proposal was approved, though with great reluctance on everybody's part, as Mr Jones had been preferred for the post.
It was decided that Mr Jones must be removed from the post, although it was one for which cadets had a preferential claim. At the same time, it was pointed out that the promotion of Mr de Saussey had brought the matter to notice.
The next step was the appointment of Mr Kemp as Deputy Registrar & Appraiser in 1907, to succeed Mr de Saussey.
This post and that held by Mr Jones were on the same scale of salary, but the arrangement was protested against by a memorial, and the Government saw no objection to the arrangement.
The next stage was in 1907, when Mr Jones protested against Mr Kemp's acting as Registrar in Mr de Saussey's absence, on the ground that he was the senior officer.
He was told brutally that in the Public Service, length of service in a particular branch was not considered, and that the officer's priority was determined by his seniority in the service.
Page 437
W. & S. Ltd.—18679—6000--10-07.
-1979-6000-4-08.
33137/57.
32068/02
17747/7
23636
33133/64.