C
(
113
market value.
"I beg to recommend the appointment (which should be on a year's probation in the first instance) in the strongest possible way".
4.
On 18th. September, 1911, Mr. Wells informed the Director of Education that the London Missionary Society did not consider it desirable that he should enter into an agreement to serve the Government at Queen's College for a period of years but that they had no objection to his offering his services for a further 12 months for 12 hours a week on the existing terms as regards salary.
5.
In forwarding this offer the Director of Education under date 9th. Ilovember, 1911, wrote as follows:-
"These are the terms which Kr. Wells offers,
and as the alternative is to lose Mr. Wells' services I
recommend that they be accepted. I am quite sure that Ir. Wells would not offer these terms unless he felt that they
were such as would enable him to do valuable work, and I would further point out that Mr. Wells combines in his person a number of qualifications which would be very hard to secure in any other man even if we offer a very high salary indeed. In addition to his great knowledge of Chinese, he is
a keen educationist and one well acquainted with local education problems, and he is besides a man of good education and a very competent teacher".
6.
To this offer the Government made on 24th.
January, 1912, a counter offer namely:-
(a). A two years engagement renewable at the discretion
of either side and terminable by either side with
3 months' notice at the end of the first year:
(b). Salary at the rate of £200 per annum:
(c). Twelve (12) hours a week during school term.
7.