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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O.885
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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO
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(MR. PEARSON.)
The previous minutes have pointed out the difficulties in the way of what is proposed, so that I will not repeat them, but rather suggest what seeins possible in the direction of Lord Selborne's scheme.
1. I do not think, for the reasons already given, that an Upper Division of the Colonial Service, to be recruited by open competition, is possible either by itself or in combination with either this office or the Indian Civil Service, though in the higher
than now.
ranks permanent* exchanges with the Home and I do not, of course, Indian Services might perhaps be carried farther mean that such an officer As it is, members of this Office and should be debarred from returning to his old service distinguished Indian and military officers have been if opportunity offered and appointed to high offices in the Colonies, and I such re-transfer was thought need hardly refer to those who have held high desirable.—A. A. P. office in this country who were at one time in the Colonial Service. Below the rank of Governor we frequently seek for officers with special ex perience, e, in eustoms or audit work, in the Home Service. It might be possible to make this interchange more common and more mutual, so that a meritorious and able Colonial official might be transferred more frequently than now to the Home Service.
Yes. 1 should like to see
some system under which
we could borrow men from,
g, the Customs and Post Office, as we borrow officers from the Army, who would retain the right to resumo their position in the Im- perial Service if they wished
2. Nor do I think that it would be desirable to within (say) 5 years.— debar members of the technical branches of the R. L. A.
Yes. 1 think that an
service from ordinary civil appointments; some of I agree.—E. W. our best Colonial Officers have come from the Educational Branch, and it is frequently necessary, for the sake of economy, to combine medical with civil duties. In the Eastern Colonies, where a knowledge of native languages is required, and where there is no large permanent population of European descent, the close service system works well and I think that a similar but separate African Service will some service might perhaps in the future be organised day be possible: but it must for the various Crown Colonies and Protectorates the difficulty of getting can- be, separate, and at present in Africa, recruited by open competition, coupled, I didates is so great that we wotik suggest, with a certain proportion of nomi. must get them as best we nations for Colonial candidates, subject to a test, can.—R. L. A. as well as a physical examination. We have frequent applications from the West Indies for appointments in West Africa, and, while such candidates could not probably compete success- fully against candidates in this country, they might prove very good officers; and other good officers might come from other Colonies.
If a certain proportion of vacancies were filled in this way, it might, among other things, tend to promote the Imperial as against the Parochial feeling in the Colonies.
I suggest such a scheme specially for Africa, if an African service of the kind proposed is created -whether it would be advisable to extend any similar system to India and the Eastern Colonies is another question which I need not go into
now,
The chief difficulty about an African service is the climate. West African officials naturally expect to be moved after some years on the coast to a healthier climate; they draw specially large
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Yes. As compared with salaries in West Africa, and promotion is com- other Colonial salaries: but paratively rapid; and in this way men whose they are miserably small as compared with the Indian physical are stronger than their administrative or social qualifications are sometimes pushed up into positions in other Colories for which they are not fitted.
salaries.-R. L. A. Yes.-R. L. A.
Yes, The Service has suffered much from this.— E. W.
I agree.-R. L. A.
It would have to be understood, I think, that the members of the African service must not, as
a rule, expect to be moved from Africa, and the We may lay down such a required relief might be sought for in liberal leave rule, but it will be very and pension regulations, and in giving officers on difficult to maintain it when the Coast transfers, as opportunity offered, to the
higher and healthier central stations.
good officers break down in health.-E. W,
This is a very important point, and I should like to see it taken up without de- lay.-R. L. A.
I agree.-H. B. C.
↑ It would not be fair on other Colonies that
As regards the West Indies, for the reasons given in previous minutes, I do not think a single Civil Service is practicable, but I do think that much might be done to facilitate transfers by assimilating the pension laws, and in other way's which I will briefly notice. We are trying to do something in this direction at the present time for the Police and Constabulary Branch of the Service.
Most of the West Indies are
pure Crown Colonies, and some others may become so ere long; among these (and the rest might follow the lead), I would suggest the following measures for adoption :
1. Uniform pension laws,
2. An inter-Colonial pension systein under which, in calculating an officer's pension or gratuity, the total pensionable emoluments which he would have received, if on full pay all the time, would be added together (a record could easily he kept and added together when required), the ollicer had a and the pension divided among the several Colonies larger amount of leave on according to the total credited to each. half, or no pay when serving
3. One uniform widows' and orphans' pension there.—A. A. P.
one
Colony should pay less be
cause
• This would save a great scheme,* on the lines of Mr. Ebden's Scheme (see
amount of trouble and -ex- 12295/83 Ceylon); the division of inter-Colonial pense in management, and pensions of this nature to be made in the same way the costly periodical actu- as ordinary pensions.
arial investigations. Sala-
ries should be adjusted 4. Lastly, something might probably be done in accordingly, and reduced if the way of assimilating laws, customs, regulations, &c., in the different West Indian Colonies; and it
necessary.-A. A. P.
We are passing orders in might be possible to have one or two Courts of the Windwards on this sub- Appeal for the whole West Indies now served by ject, the same law being the Royal Mail. Proposals in this direction have passed in each island. The for some time been talked of and considered, but different islands, however,
show a tendency to put in the question is a legal one.
sotne pet provisions of their I believe that in the above, and possibly other own, which, for the sake of ways, much might be done to facilitate interchange uniformity, which I regardl
as essential in such legisla- of officers, and perhaps at the same time commercial tion, I have been endeavour-
ing to stop.-H. B, C.
intercourse.
I will only refer in conclusion to Mr. Round's remark upon Federation. I am afraid I do not believe in Federation for the West Indies, or in a Governor-General sitting in a comming tower sur- rounded with telephone and telegraph wires.
With regard to the question of getting good men as Governors, what I have suggested may widen the field of selection, and care in selection do the rest.
4th December.
nay
A. A. P.