C.I.N
1. Gov.
hi
agreement
with
tel. 76
20-1-48
2
Mr. Mayle.
1.
We discussed the draft despatch opposite to Hong Kong. I would venture the following comments.
(i)
Comment on paragraph 172 of Salaries Report.
I think it is important that the Public Services Commission should from the start not attempt to take responsibility for the very large number of purely subordinate appointments. I do not believe that it could possibly carry out this enormous task. I therefore suggest that the Secretary of State approval should indicate the conclusion of the African (a)(i) Governors' Conference on this point in Minute 25, to this extent modifying the recommendation of the Salaries Commission in their paragraph 172.
/of
(ii) Comment on paragraph 173(1) of Salaries
Report.
*
While I agree with the second paragraph of the comment in the draft despatch on this point, I venture with great diffidence to sugest that the first paragraph as it stands might be read as somewhat illiberal and as expressing a desire to limit or retard the stated policy of improving opportunities for local candidates.
I would suggest that it be omitted and that
an addition might be made to the second paragraph to the effect that it would be open to the Public Services Commission to make recommendations to the Governor for the improvement of opportunities for local candidates.
(iii) Comment on paragraph 174 of Salaries Report
I suggest that it might be worth while
passing on to the Governor as a suggestion the substance of Section 119(3)(a) of the Government of Burma Act (which is the same, I think, as the corresponding provision in the Government of India Act) see (3) on the 1947 file. This is to the effect that the Chairman of the Public Services Commission shall be ineligible for further Crown employment in the territory.
The Commission recommends that the Chairman of the Public Services Commission should be a retired officer. More than this one retired officer can be included if it is considered necessary to have more experience of Government service; it is not therefore in my view necessary to include serving Government officers to achieve this end.
Both these suggestions tend to reduce the fact and the appearance of Government control over the Public Services Commission. Perhaps they might be made and the rather definite
lead