2.
advisory, he would forward to Government any recommendations
which the Board might make.
(ii) A Deputy Labour Commissioner.
73
This officer would act
417333
Appts.
as Chief assistant to the Commissioner and would include in his
duties general administration, the drafting of legislation, etc.
To maintain continuity of policy he would be in charge of the
department in the absence of the Commissioner.
(iii) Two Labour Officers.
Applications to the department by
employers and employees on questions of wages, working conditions,
industrial disputes, etc., are already very numerous and are
likely to increase rather than dimini sh. Miss Hinder suggests
that a Chinese Labour Officer would be very suitable for this
type of work. As, however, a European officer, with an excellent
knowledge of Cantonese colloquial, has already gained considerable
experience in this position, the appointment of a Chinese officer
to assist him, the necessity for which has already become apparent,
will have to be additional to this previous appointment and not in
substitution therefor. The European officer referred to in this
paragraph is Major Chauvin and in this connexion I invite reference
to the correspondence commencing with my telegram No.567 of 12th
July, 1946.
(iv) A Lady Assistant Labour Officer, Miss Hinder rightly
considers that the department will be more and more concerned with
the question of female labour. This is not likely, however, to
be exclusively in connexion with factories and I am in favour of
the suggestion of Mr. Hawkins that a European Lady Assistant,
with a good knowledge of Cantonese and social welfare work, be
appointed in the first instance,
(+)
Trade Union Adviser. While the registration of trade
unions will fall, when the necessary legislation has been enacted,
within the scope of the Labour Department, the question of foster-
ing their growth along the right lines may more appropriately, at