204
2.
I now learn that my predecessor
Sir M. Nathan expressed similar views in a minute dated
19th. February, 1905, viz.:- some 6 months after his
arrival, but he contented himself with placing them on
record and left the matter in abeyance. Sir Henry May,
late
Colonial Secretary, in reply to my request for his opinion
on my minute, recorded his entire agreement with my views.
3.
In my opinion the "general post"
which usually takes place upon the temporary absence on
leave of the Head of one of the principal departments
other than the Public Works or Medical Departments
*
tends
to disorganize the work of Government, and to sacrifice
continuity with no corresponding benefit to the Service.
Individuals gein perhaps a temporary insight into the
working of a department with which they may probably never
again be associated, at the cost to the Public of a lack of
experience and consequently of efficiency in its adminis-
-tration, and to themselves of additional experience and
training in the departments with which their careers are
probably identified. In many cases which could be instanced
the absence of a single senior executive officer has
resulted in a change of the principel officers in three or
four other Departments, and in some cases the tenure of
the