22
35.
-15-
We regard it as of primary importance for the satisfactory working: of the Government's disciplinary system that efficiency bars should be strictly and con- scientiously applied and that Heads of Departments should refuse to give annual certificates which would entitle officers to an increment of pay whore such certificates are not wholly justified. The Pensijas Ordinance contains provisions which enables the Governor-in-Council to dispenso at any time with the services of an officer who appears to be unable to discharge officiently the duties of his office. Where, however, such an officer can produce certificates from the Heal of his Department ontbling him to secure the usual increments of salary or to pass the prescribed efficiency bars he may successfully rebut any charge of culative inefficiency or continued misbehaviour in office, Any laxity in the grunting of annual certificates or in the enforcement of officiency bars may therefore make it difficult ultimately to get rid of an officer whose inefficiency has persisted over a number of years but who has annually been permitted to draw the further increments which should be granted only as the result of positive good service. The Pensions Ordinance also makes provisions for the rant of only a limitel pension gratuity or other allowance in the case of an officer retired for inefficiency or the total withhelling of any such grant in the case of an officer who has been guilty or negligence, irregulari ty or misconduct. Where the services of an officer ure dis- pensed with finoficiency or misconduct it is important that any grant made to him by way of pension gratuity or other allowance should either be withheld or be of such a limited oz gratia amount as not to make it worth while for an officer to conduce or to secure his own diumissal by deliberate inefficiency or misconduct with a view to obtaining arension or a gratuity to supplement his earnings from other employment. It is recommended that the Provisions relating to ponsi ns should he reconsidcred with a view to providing the necessary sanctions to secure officiency and to ouable Government without undue restrict- ion or burden upon its finances to dispense with officers who are inefficient or quilty of misconduct,
Ro-rganisation and Retrenchment.
36.
We have proposed what we consider to be the lowon't adequate terms at which the Goverment may expect to get competent responsible officers. But the total cost of the improvements we suggest will be high. It has been no part of our task to inquire if departments are overstaffed or ir holders of posts are really competent or if departments are well organised. Wo ve assumed in our recommendations that in these respecte conditions are satisfactory. payer has a right to clearer assurances than we can offer.
But the buzz- It is therefore our recommendation that the Government should satisfy itself and people generally by inquiry through a committee or using the services of a special officer that the public services are not overstaffed nor the asylum of inefficient officers.