the criterion is the relative efficiency
and merit of one officer as compared with
another, I feel considerable doubt whether
a Commission composed as proposed would be
the most effective machinery for reviewing the
recommendations of Heads of Departments. Both
as regards promotions and the passing of
efficiency bars I should be inclined to feel
greater confidence in a system of Departmental
promotions boards on which the staff of the
Department concerned was represented.
(e) 'Paragraph 174 and 175. This is the first
occasion on which it has been proposed that a
Colonial Public Services Commission should
not include a senior member of the Public
Service of the Colony. While I do not
demur to the recommendation that the
Commission should not include such a member,
it is conceivable that a suitable retired
officer of the Government may not be available
for appointment as Chairman. In that event,
it might well be that the only means of
ensuring (as is essential) that one at
least of the members should be thoroughly .
well versed in Government procedure and
in the best traditions of the public service,
would be by the appointment of a senior officer
of the Government as the Chairman of the
Commission. It would therefore be undesirable
to prescribe by Ordinance that the Commission
should not include any member of the Public
Moreover, while
Service of the Colony. the proposed statutory 人
independent character of the Commission will
undoubtedly be of advantage in relation to the
exercise of its responsibility for making
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