238
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
FILLIUT
Reference :-
C.O.
882/10
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-ÑOT TO]
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The post of European clerk in the Mercantile Marine Office can be abolished, as the present holder is retiring, and the post can be incorporated in the clerical service.
For the Government Marine Surveyor I recommend by annual increments of £20 to £800, for the First Assistant £500 to £600 by £20 salary of £700, rising annually, and for the other junior Assistants £400 to £500 by £20 annually.
I agree with the classification and salaries recommended by the Commissioners for the Lighthouse Keepers. When I came to this Colony I was surprised to find so many European lighthouse keepers employed, as there are none in the Straits Settlements, where the lights are of equal importance. I have since found that the local conditions, especially the prevalence of fogs and the proximity to Chinese territory, whence bands of pirates can raid the lighthouses, make the presence of European lighthouse keepers desirable, though I consider that their number could be reduced.
14. Royal Observatory.-The Director has free quarters in the Observatory, and it is proposed to build quarters for the Chief and First Assistants in the grounds. As these officers will be required to occupy quarters at the Observatory, consider that they should be charged no rent, and the salaries of all three officers should be fixed with due regard to this. I recommend the following salaries :-
Director, £800 to £700 by annual increments of £20.
Chief Assistant Director, £450 to £550 by annual increments of £20. First Assistant Director, £350 to £450 by annual increments of £20.
15. Botanical and Forestry Department.-The Superintendent at present occupies free quarters adjoining the Botanic Gardens free of rent. The arrange- ment is a suitable one and might continue. It is difficult to find a suitable site at the Gardens for quarters for the Assistant Superintendent. I recommend the follow- ing salaries:-
Superintendent. £600 to £800 by annual increments of £20.
Assistant Superintendent, £400 to £500 by annual increments of £10.
16. The post of Chief Clerk in the Colonial Secretary's Office is of a special nature, as, apart from the arduous duties, the holder of the appointment should not be liable to transfer elsewhere. It is essential that both he and the First Clerk should have an intimate knowledge of the records, the routine, and the staff of the office. I propose, therefore, that in the case of both these posts the salaries should rise by increments spread over a long period. I recommend the following rates of pay:-
Chief Clerk, £600 to £800 by annual increments of £20. First Clerk, £400 to £600 by annual increments of £20.
17. Post Office-With regard to the salaries proposed for the Superinten- dent, Money Order Office, Accountant, General Post Office, Superintendent of Mails, and Superintendent of Registration Branch, General Post Office, I should prefer to make the minimum salary of the two former posts £500. The Post Office has always been, and probably always will be, to some extent self-contained. The work is of such a nature that the efficiency acquired would probably be of little use in another branch of the service, and it is, therefore, desirable to aim at having as few changes as possible in the permanent holders of posts.
18. Imports and Exports Department.-In this department also it is desirable to maintain continuity in the offices not open to Cadet Officers, and I would increase the salary proposed for the Supervisor and Accountant by making it £450 to £650 by annual increments of £10. The poet of Office Assistant should no longer be required if a cadet is appointed to the department, as recommended in paragraph 16 of my Confidential despatch of the 15th April.*
As regards the Revenue Officers, I consider that with the higher salaries pro- posed for the Police Force it will no longer be desirable or necessary to recruit from that force. The great temptations to which officers of the preventive service are exposed of yielding to corrupt practices makes it of the first importance that a good stamp of man should be obtained for the European branch. I consider that it would be well to aim at having a few men of experience who, while thoroughly efficient, would also maintain the credit of the service, and with this object in view I would make the prospects such as to attract junior officers of the Customs service in England. I would, therefore, retain the classification proposed by the Commis- sioners and increase the salaries as follows:-
* No. 1.
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Chief Revenue Officer, £450 to £550 by £20 annually.
First Class Revenue Officers, £350 to £420 by £10 annually.
Second-Class Revenue Officers, £250 to £320 by £10 annually.
19. I agree generally with the recommendations of the Commissioners as regards the classification and salaries of Overseers in the Public Works Depart- ment, Land Bailiffs, and Sanitary Inspectors. I also agree with the salary proposed for the Inspector of Stores, Public Works Department, namely, £400 to £550 by £10 annually.
20. The Commissioners have extended their recommendations to the Clerical Service and General Establishments recruited locally, but until the policy of the Government as regards the provision of quarters for all such officers has been decided, I am of opinion that it would be better to make no changes in the present salaries. If it were not for the very high rents now paid the salaries would be ample, and the ten per centum allowance which has been granted goes far to remedy that difficulty temporarily. It is by no means an impossible task to build suitable quarters, though it will take several years to carry it into effect. When the improved means of communication both in Victoria and Kowloon, now under con- sideration, have been provided, several excellent sites for such quarters will become available. I propose to lay the matter before Mr. Stubbs, and I would, therefore, suggest that this part of the recommendations of the Commissioners may be held in abeyance. I consider, however, that pending provision of quarters, a rent allow- ance of twenty per centum on salary should be granted in place of the ten per centum allowance which is now paid.
21.
In paragraph 4 of my despatch of the 15th April, I stated that I would deal with the question of quarters and rent later on, and I will now do so. Your Lordship's predecessors have expressed the view that this Government should endeavour to construct quarters for all European officers, and an effort is now being made to do so. The cost of building in this Colony is, however, so much greater than in the Straits Settlements or Federated Malay States that it is impossible to obtain an adequate return on the cost of a well-built house of a sufficient size with- out charging a rent, which would defeat the purpose aimed at. I indicated in para- graph 10 of my despatch No. 301 of the 23rd October, 1918, covering the Estimates for 1919, that by providing houses the Government would not only receive the rent laid down, but would also save the payment of allowances in aid of rent, and this was adopted by the Secretary of State when the large expenditure on quarters was approved. The Commissioners recommend rather higher rents them have hitherto been charged, namely, $100, $80, $60, and $50 a month, in place of $60, $50, and $40, and in consideration of the increase proposed in salaries and other privileges, I am inclined to agree with them. I also concur with the recom- mendations as regards free quarters for all the officers specified on pages 7, 8, and 9t of the report (Schedule II.) except in the case of those under the head "Clerical Staff." who should, in my opinion, be charged $50 a month.
In the case of officers on dollar salaries whose domicile is in Asia, I recommend that free quarters should be provided as opportunity offers. I am aware that for some years past in the Federated Malay States such officers have been charged a low rent, but with the increased cost of living I consider that it would be better to make the concession of free quarters than to raise salaries. Many of these officers are improvident, and to increase their salaries would only tend to develop extravagant habits without any compensating advantage.
22. As regards the proposals in Schedule III., if the principle of granting free passages to all ranks of the service is conceded, it will not be a difficult matter to draw up rules. I have expressed my concurrence with the principle in para- graph 8 of my despatch of the 15th April, and as I presume that equal treatment will be accorded to officers in the public services of all the Eastern Colonies and Dependencies in this respect, it is unnecessary for me to discuss the matter in any detail.
23. I am afraid that this despatch has been unduly delayed, but as it is going by the Suez route I hope it may arrive before Mr. Stubbe leaves England.
I have, &c.,
CLAUD SEVERN, Officer Administering the Government.
* 69100: not printed.
1 pp. 7.10 of this print.
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