PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 882
6
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO |
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new terms offered to them, that refusal should not be a bar to their receiving additional dollar pay, not to carry pension.
4. Broadly speaking, these views amount to a desire to give a generous increase to the dollar salaries now drawn by Government offiecrs, especially to those who have about seven to fifteen years' service, whilst all the unofficial members of Council seem to think that the rates on which Government officers are now entitled to calculate their pensions should not be increased-for one obvious reason, because the pensions will neither be drawn nor expended in the East, and, therefore, the increased cost of living here need not be considered in that regard.
5. As to the special rate for leave pay, the unofficial members said that they were told on all sides that if it were not for that rate, officers who took leave after their first six years' of service, drawing a salary of perhaps 82,400 to $3,000, could not possibly afford to pay their passages to Europe and back, and live there for twelve months on the half of £240 or £300.
6. I think a consideration of these opinions forces one very much to the con- clusion which I have expressed in paragraph 17 of my confidential despatch of the 17th May. It is evident from the facts and also from comparison between the salaries drawn here, and drawn by Government officers in other Colonies (say, for instance, in British Guiana) that the members of the Civil Service have hitherto been underpaid. The climate is certainly not good, the work is trying and responsible, and the Colony and Native States are fortunately very prosperous.
What is required
is to give a general increase to almost all salaries, and if you agree with me that the opportunity should be scized to do away with the striking anomalies already explained elsewhere, it may be wise to purchase finality and contentment at a somewhat higher price than need have been given if the Service had not acquired the special privileges it now possesses.
7. Whatever view you take in reference to the settlement of this question as it affects the officers already in the Service, I should say that the Acting Colonial Secretary and the unofficial members of Council are very strongly in favour of putting the salary of every newly engaged public servant on the sterling basis, provided the salary is of £120 a year and upwards, or even less than that, is sent out from England.
I have, &c.,
Enclosure in No. 22.
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
Tuesday, June 4, 1901. PRESENT:
the person engaged
FRANK SWETTENHAM.
His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government (Sir Frank Athelstane
Swettenham, K.C.M.G.).
The Honourable the Acting Colonial Secretary (C. W. Sneyd Kynnersley, C.M.G.).
the Acting Attorney-General (T. H. Kershaw)."
J
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the Colonial Treasurer (F. G. Penney).
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the Auditor-General (E. C. H. Hill).
the Colonial Engineer (A. Murray, C.E., M. Inst.C.E.).
Lim Boon Keng, M.B., C.M.
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J. Burkinshaw.
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J. M. Allinson.
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T. E. Earle.
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G. S. Murray.
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The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.
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Proposed Increase of Salary to the Civil Service.
Mr. EARLE asked the following questions:-
With reference to the despatch of the Secretary of State of 21st November, 1900, and to the report of the Select Committee appointed by the Legislative Council on 8th January, 1901, to consider the salaries of the Civil Service and to submit schemes for increases thereto, the following information is desired:-
i. On what date was the Committee's report forwarded to the Secretary of State?
ii. Will the Government lay on the table a copy of the covering despatch to the Secretary of State?
iii. When was a reply received from the Secretary of State?
iv. Will the Government lay on the table a copy of the Secretary of State's
V.
reply?
What steps do the Government propose to take to deal with this urgent matter, which, to quote the Secretary of State, it is impolitic, not to say unjust, to leave unsettled?
The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY: Sir, in reply to the first question, the date is the 16th March, 1901. The reply to the second question is, No, the despatch was confidential. With regard to questions 3 and 4, no reply has been received. With reference to the 5th question, it is a matter which the Secretary of State alone can decide. To enable him to come to a decision it was necessary that the whole question should be candidly and fairly placed before him, and that has now been done. The Government officers in this Colony are, in this matter, in no worse position than those in the Federated Malay States, and the Secretary of State has declined to consider either Service separately. As everyone concerned is anxious to settle this question finally and satisfactorily, there is not likely to be any needless delay, nor can any individual interest suffer, for the question at issue is not the settlement of a claim but an appeal for consideration.
Mr. EARLE: In order to elucidate the reply to question 5, am I right in conclud- ing that the members of this Council have no right to concern themselves with the pay of officers in the Federated Malay States? My question, of course, relates to the Colony, and it implies that I only concern myself with the Colony. I understand that am not entitled to deal with any matter concerning the Federated Malay States.
The OFFICER ADMINISTERING THE GOVERNMENT: That is so.
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On the motion of the Acting Colonial Secretary, the Council adjourned till Tuesday, 18th June, 1901.
25409
No. 23.
ABSENT:
The Honourable the Officer Commanding the Troops (Lieutenant-Colonel R. Oakes,
Royal Garrison Artillery).
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the Acting Resident Councillor of Penang (J. K. Birch),
the Acting Resident Councillor of Malacca (E. M. Merewether).
• No. 17.
J. M. B. Vermont, C.M.G.
STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.
MR. CHAMBERLAIN to ACTING GOVERNOR SIR F. A. SWETTENHAM.
TELEGRAM.
(Sent 4.15 p.m., August 2, 1901.) [Answered by 27387: not printed.]
Referring to my telegram of July 17,* await despatch by next mail conveying de- cision on lines of telegrams. Increases to date from January 1 last. What sterl- ing salaries would you recommend for following appointments outstanding or shortly to be made: Assistant Superintendents Police, European Constables, House Surgeon, Singapore, District Surgeon, Federated Malay States, Assistants, Pathological Institute?
Referring to my despatch of May. 23,† propose initial salary cadets £225, free quarters.
Telegraph reply.
• No. 20.
† No. 16.