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3
Wednesday, October 17, 1973
A further and "conclusive argument," he added, was that public
confidence was very much involved.
"Clearly the public would have more confidence in a unit that was
entirely independent and separate from any department of the government,
including the palice,"
To combat corruption, the Governor said, good laws and good organisation
were essential, "but I put my trust principally in the services of sound men."
He was certain that the service as a whole would accept that "grave
situations call for unusual measures, and that honest officers, the huge
majority, have nothing to fear and indeed everything to gain."
Turning to the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry conducted by
Sir Alastair Main-Kerr, the Governor said the government generally accepted the
objectives of the recommendations. They were being examined in detail in
consultation with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Council.
He hoped that legislation could be introduced shortly in the Legislative
"Where appropriate, discussions with the main staff associations will
be held as some of the changes suggested to civil service regulations will be
controversial and staff associations will, rightly, seek to protect the interests
of their members."
The Governor had a special word of praise for Sir Alastair on the
thorough and forthright way he had performed his task "with a minimum of soft soap
and a maximum of objectivity."
On the Godber affair, Sir Murray said it had highlighted the case for
amending the Fugitive Offenders Act, as recommended by Sir Alastair.
/The