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that their substantial grievance will be met by the proposed legislation in connection with pensionable service, and recommends that no other action on the petition is called for.
As regards the substance of the petition, as summarised in the three points set out in the second paragraph of the accompanying official letter, the answers are briefly as follows:-
(1) The revised scales of basic pay were recommended by a Salaries Commission after careful consideration of all the factors involved. The adequacy of the scales, in the general context of the salaries paid to other Government servents, is not seriously challenged by the arguments put forward by the petitioners; and, in view of the increased cost of living allowances to which I have referred above, the Governor is satisfied regarding the adequacy of their total emoluments, even in the case of Police Inspectors on or near the minimum of the scale.
(2) The request for an opportunity of reconsiderati on of the option between the old and new terms of service is based on the grounds that the petitioners were required to exercise their option before the new conditions were completely formulated. The Governor is however satisfied that all material changes were brought to the notice of the officers concerned at the time when they were required to notify the option.
(3) The pension point is being met by the legislative action which I have described above.
Yours sincerely,
(Sgd.) N.D. WATSON.
Private Secretary.