115
88
the ordinary rules may be so small that some special concession will be necessary. The Civil Service retrenchment scheme is indeed the backbone of the whole plan the success of which turns on the possibility of its realization. It will be well therefore to consider it more fully.
15. The principles underlying the proposed reorganization are :--
(1) reduction of rates of salary;
(2) retrenchment of a multiplicity of minor offices the duties of which in some cases overlap;
(3) reorganization of the clerical grades;
(4) reduction in pensions,
With regard to the proposed reduction in salary rates much as I regret the necessity for recourse to this expedient I do not see how it can well be avoided in existing circumstances though I fear that in some cases the proposed reductions will bring the salaries to a level at which it will be difficult to fill the offices satisfactorily and they will of course bear very hardly on officers who have families to educate in England. In addition officers will have in most cases the added burden of the proposed occupiers tax. This is another reason for keeping this tax at a moderate level. It is not possible in the time available to discuss individual cases. It cannot be supposed that in the time at their disposal the Commissioners can have investigated fully the relative claims and responsibilities of all individual offices and subject to acceptance of the general principle I presume the possibility of adjustment in individual cases need not be excluded.
16. With regard to retrenchment of offices I am in general agree- ment with the principles underlying the proposals but it would be useless to ignore the existence of practical difficulties in the im- mediate adoption of the entire programme. I have already ex- pressed my views in my Confidential despatch of the 29th September, on the difficulty of an immediate adoption of the plan for combining the financial duties of the Receiver-General's" de- partment with those of the Colonial Secretary's office and I adhere entirely to the views then expressed. In other cases such as revenue duties and sanitary I think the adjustment can be carried out by instalments but that the attempt to enforce the full programme at once will lead to confusion. It is impossible to set out in advance a full programme but as an example of what I think might be accomplished I may suggest the possibility of adopting during the coming year :-
* C. 84574/31 [No. 39]: not printed.
89
(1) the full programme in respect to the Forestry Depart- ment estimated to save Rs.202,870;
(2) the full programme in relation to Schools, estimated saving Rs.74,850;
(3) portions of the retrenchments proposed under Treasury, Procureur-General, Magistrates, Farm School, Medical, and Public Works.
It is difficult to estimate the probable savings. The total involved. in these departmefits according to the Commissioners' estimate is Rs.302,280. I think it possible that savings totalling Rs.150,000 might be achieved making a total retrenchment next year of approximately Rs.450,000 or with the salary cut proposed (which according to the schedule to the letter I calculate at Rs.270,000) a total of Rs.720,000 by way of retrenchment. It may be remarked that of the total of Rs.1,477,286 shown in the schedule of re- trenchments Rs. 412,536 concerns savings on municipal services or services to be handed over to local authorities and is dependent, at any rate to some extent, on their co-operation. It would be over-sanguine to expect that this will be immediately forthcoming. It might be hoped however that in the course of the coming year some at least of this readjustment might be arranged and that the total savings might perhaps be raised to Rs.900,000. It must of
gness course be admitted that this figure is nothing more than a but I give it as an indication of my view as to the measure of re- trenchment which might be found in fuct to be practicable. There book saving on the Widows and should be added to this the Orphans' Fund which I have placed at approximately Rs.320,000 or say Rs.1,200,000 in all. I should be well satisfied if this figure can actually be achieved.
+
"
17. If these anticipations were to be fulfilled the resultant ex- penditure would be as follows :--
Estimates 1931-32
Add: Loan Charges on
Hurricane Loan
Add: Additional charges now borne
Rs.
14,634,040
£75,000
60,000
""
by
(see paragraph 11 Funds of enclosure I) say
200,000.
150,000
Rs.15,044,040 1,200,000
Rs.13,844,040
Pension Charges (these would no doubt be sufficient on the reduced retrenchment programme)
Less retrenchment
PUBLIC PECORD
OFFICE
Reference-
111.C.O.882/12
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