PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
TLC.O. 882
6 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO
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the Memorialists contemplate, will accentuate the difference between the Colony and the Native States in this respect.
I have taken advantage of Sir Frank Swettenham's presence in this country to discuss this question with him, and I concur in the opinion expressed by him, that owing to the peculiar conditions of the Native States service, a large proportion of appointments will, for a long time at least, necessarily continue to be subordinate appointments.
7. In view of this circumstance, it appears to me that whatever course you may decide to recommend in regard to the adoption of an incremental scale of salary in the Straits Settlements, there is good ground for considering whether special terms of increments should not be attached to those posts in the Federated Malay States which are at present paid at $2,400 to $3,600 per annum, in order to compensate the officers concerned for unavoidable slowness of promotion.
8. I agree with you that any improvement that it may ultimately be decided to effect in the pay and prospects of the service should extend to the higher posts outside the cadet service; and I should be glad if you would consider these posts in making your recommendations. I do not see any special reason for leaving the post of Colonial Secretary out of consideration.
You will doubtless at the same time deal with the question of the salaries of the Assistant Superintendents of Police, to which reference is made in your despatch, No. 313, of the 31st of August last.*
9. I should be glad to receive at the same time detailed recommendations as to the clerical service. You are, perhaps, aware that the increase of the salaries of the higher posts in the Hong Kong service has been followed by the appointment of a Committee to enquire into the salaries paid to subordinate officers. This Committee consists of the Chairman of the Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce, and two large employers of labour. I leave it to your discretion to decide whether there would be any advantage in appointing a similar Committee in the Straits Settlements.
10. As regards paragraph 5 of your despatch, and paragraph 9 of the Memorial, in which it is stated that there are at present no fewer than 18 cadets without appoint- ments, I have to observe that it seems to me that the number of cadets is altogether disproportionate to the number of substantive appointments in the service of the Colony, and I should be glad to know why it is thought necessary to keep the number of cadets so high.
11. I concur in your view that there is no sufficient reason for reducing the present age limit for optional retirement from the Government Service, as desired by the Memorialists.
12. I approve of the steps which I understand from your despatch are being taken to supply houses to Government officers at reasonable rates.
13. As regards paragraph 11 of your despatch, I agree that passed cadets should not remain more than three years in that position without an addition to their salary.
14. I shall be prepared to approve, the necessary increases in expenditure, if you and the Resident-General can show to my satisfaction that they are both desirable and feasible. The Civil Servants of the Straits Settlements and the Federated Malay States, with those of Hong Kong, bear a deservedly high reputation for ability, in- tegrity and efficiency, and it would in my opinion be impolitic, not to say unjust, not to remunerate them on a scale which will enable them to live in comfort, and which will at the same time continue to attract young men of the class from whom the Government Service is at present recruited.
37988
No. 3.
I have, &c.,
J. CHAMBERLAIN.
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officers of the subordinate portion of the public service was more urgent than that of superior officers, I have the honour to enclose copies of Memorials from the Clerks in Singapore, Penang,† and Malacca, together with copy of the interim reply sent to the two last mentioned.
2. The matter has been considered informally by the Legislative Council, the Finance Committees of which have expressed themselves in favour of granting increases, the Committee of Singapore (and Malacca) going as far as to state that they were prepared to vote as much as 20 per cent. addition to existing salaries on this
account.
3. On consulting the Executive Council after these expressions of opinion, I have been advised that the best plan to adopt will be to revise the salaries of the Clerical Service in each Settlement, having due regard to the proper graduation of promotion and the number of clerks in each class.
4. I have accordingly arranged for Committees to sit under the presidency of the Colonial Secretary, in Singapore, and the Resident Councillor in the other two Settlements to submit a scheme based on this advice, the cost of which is not to involve more than 15 per cent. addition to existing salaries, and I hope before long to lay the result before you for approval.
5. Meanwhile I do not feel at liberty without your previous consent to provide any addition on this account in the Estimates, and any increase, of which you may approve, will be provided for by a supplementary vote.
6. I annex a careful memorandum on the subject by the Acting Colonial Secre- tary which describes the anomalies of the present system, and the losses which the public service in Penang has sustained by frequent, resignations of clerks who have obtained more lucrative employment elsewhere.
SIR,
I have, &c.,
J. A. SWETTENHAM.
Enclosure 4 in No. 3.
The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY to the RESIDENT COUNCILLOR, Penang. (Penang 4441/00.)
Colonial Secretary's Office, Singapore, June 5, 1900. REFERRING to your letter of the 29th May, forwarding a Memorial from members of the Clerical Service for an increase of pay, I am directed to state that the papers from which the Memorialists quote state the prices of rice as follows:-
Siam
Rangoon
98th August, 1897.
3rd May, 1900,
175 dollars per koyan
180 dollars per koyan.
152
149
19
11
Since (May 31st) 148 11
which figures do not justify the fourth paragraph of the Memorial.
I am to state that at the present moment, when 5 millions of people are in receipt
of relief from famine in India, it is impossible to consider the prices of food as anything
but exceptional; when the famine passes away, and fair harvests have been reaped,
it is hoped that prices will again become normal.
I have, &c.,
W. ECERTON, Acting Colonial Secretary,
Straits Settlements.
STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.
ACTING-GOVERNOR SIR J. A. SWETTENHAM to MR. CHAMBERLAIN.
(No. 403.)
SIR,
(Received November 22, 1900.)
[Answered by No. 4.]
Government House, Singapore, October 26, 1900. ADVERTING to the last paragraph of my despatch, No. 306, of the 27th August Jast, in which I stated that the need for re-consideration of salaries amongst the
• Not printed,
† No. 1.
• 195 signatories (Memorial is similar to Enclosure 2 in No. 1). † 196 signatories (Memorial similar to Enclosure 3 in No. 1). ‡ 53 signatories (Memorial similar to Enclosure 4 in No. 1).
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