No6
7
raised in this despatch.
2,
As regards Para 4. of the Governors despatch, it was not, I think, intended to convey the impression that a proportion of posts must be reserved for overseas candidates, regardless of all circumstances, and this paragraph of our draft 3 was perhaps a little unfortunately worded. It would, of course, be contrary to the principles laid down in Colonial No.197 to reserve any post for an overseas candidate, if a local candidate, who was in all respects suitable, were available. So would it be to restrict the range of posts to which local candidates could be appointed. There is no doubt that all posts in the Colonial service must be open to local candidates, provided that they have the qualifications or/and qualities necessary, although, in considering the claims of a local candidate for a particular post, the Secretary of State must reserve the right to decide whether or not he is to be preferred to an overseas candidate. On this question I think that the Secretary of State must agree with the views expressed in Paras 4 and 5 of the Governors' despatch.
3.
As regards the appointment of local candidates to unified service posts without reference to the Secretary of State, this is a question which will have to be considered when replies are received from all the Governors to the circular letter about the re-organisation of the Colonial Service. The answer depends upon what appointments are to be controlled by the Secretary of State. In this connection see para. 21 (IX) of Colonial No.197. It may, however, well be necessary to make different arrangements in each Colony, dependent upon the state of development and the availability of suitable local candidates. In some colonies the Secretary of State may well have to relinquish control over all appointments, as he did in Ceylon. This is a question on which it will be necessary for the Secretary of State, and the Governor of each Colonial dependancy to come to an agreement.
/as regards