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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

TICO. 882/10

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH--NOT TO

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Enclosure in No. 1.

REPORT.

WE the Members of the Commission appointed by His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government to inquire into and report on "the emoluments of the public service of the Colony" have accordingly the honour to submit the fol- lowing Report together with recommendations in relation to such emoluments :-

us.

1. In order to make the investigation thorough we have given an opportunity to all officers in the public service to appear and state their case personally before This they elected to do in most cases by nominated representatives of the class concerned. We have also in some cases interrogated the Heads of Departments concerning the representations of their staffs.

2. Although it is a matter of common knowledge that the price of living in the Colony, including the ordinary necessaries of life, has immensely increased since the outbreak of War, and in fact for many years antecedent thereto, we deemed it desirable to obtain direct evidence from representative gentlemen occupying high positions in the banking and commercial life of the Colony, both as to the present purchasing value of the dollar, and to the cost of living as compared with pre-war days, and since the year 1908.

We were also afforded an opportunity through the medium of these witnesses of effecting a comparison between the salaries payable to public officers, and to employees in the commercial concerns in the Colony.

3. The evidence demonstrated that the cost of living, including clothing, since the outbreak of war has increased by 30 per cent, at least, and since 1908 by as much as 50 per cent., and that an early decrease in prices is not anticipated. Further that servants' wages have largely increased.

4. In this state of circumstances it is clear that an increase in the emoluments

of public servants is imperative.

In 1913 the existing scheme of payment was introduced, the whole salary remained calculated as at 38. to the dollar, but the rates for re-conversion into dollars for local payments became,

as to 80 per cent.-$1 equals 1/9.

as to 20 per cent.-average current rate for the month. Whilst the stabilising of the number of dollars received is an undoubted advan- tage, the higher nominal sterling value of the salaries at the higher market rates cannot avail to combat the altered change of circumstances occasioned by the increased cost of living to which we have referred.

The scheme of Rent Allowances which came into force in 1917 afforded some relief, but it is unsatisfactory, and we shall submit alternative proposals in relation thereto.

5. It is in our opinion desirable to extinguish the various methods of payment presently existing as regards salaries while on service and on leave of absence; and also as regards basis of pension.

In the scale of salaries which we recommend we consider they should render unnecessary any provision for duty pay, personal allowances or other preferred payments, except in a few cases which are specified in the schedule.

8. We recommend that the rate of exchange for payment of salaries locally should be fixed at a 28. dollar, or at the rate of the day if the dollar falls below that figure. This is the rate adopted by the leading commercial firms in the Colony.

7. We recommend that, irrespective of a special class comprising certain officers of high standing, the officers should be grouped in four classes and two further classes (a) for cadets and (b) for unpassed cadets. These classes are framed with the view of assimilating, as far as circumstances will permit, the number of holders in each class, and to give a reasonable chance of promotion throughout the classes. They comprise all cadets and a number of other officers; but do not include certain departments which, from the nature of their emoluments, it has been found impracticable to associate in the classes.

We aubmit in Schedule I. a list of classes comprising the names of the offices, and the salary recommended in the case of each class.

In Schedule II. we append a list of offices comprised in other departments,

and the salary recommended in respect of each office.

To this schedule has been added a general grading scheme for clerical and general establishments.

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In all cases, except where free quarters are provided, we recommend that officers

be granted the use either of a house at the rent set out in the schedules appended hereto, or receive a rent allowance of the same amount in lieu of a house.

Our recommendations are based on the assumption that, in regard to increments, service already accrued shall count in respect thereof.

8. The proposed scale of salaries has been arrived at after a full considera- tion of the evidence before us, and represents in our opinion a fair system of remuneration in the present greatly altered circumstances of the Colony. The scales represent an approximate increase ranging from 12 per cent. on the present total emoluments of the higher grades to 30 per cent. in the case of the lower grades.

A number of individual cases were represented to us where the officer alleged some hardship which called for individual attention. We have, as far as practicable, given consideration to these cases in dealing with the proposed emolument of the office, and we are unable to recommend any further increment.

9. In regard to house or rent allowances, if we are not travelling beyond the scope of our province, we would represent that no person, other than an officer, should occupy an official house or quarters in conjunction with an officer without the permission of the Government previously obtained, and that if the permission is granted the person concerned should pay such rent as the Government may

determine.

10. We regard the present conditions attaching to leave of absence as exacting and unsatisfactory. Leave is primarily intended to enable an officer to recruit his health by change of climate, and a system which only permits of an officer going home from this far outpost of Empire for three months' leave only on full pay is in our opinion a real hardship. We recommend that leave be granted as of right once in every fifth year of service. The leave to extend to a period of 9 months on full pay, and the absence on leave to count as service for purposes of pension.

This recommendation is irrespective of any short periods of absence from duty on full pay, which is regarded as local leave.

An officer acting for a superior officer when on leave should receive the salary due to an acting officer under the existing regulations from the date of assuming the duties of such acting appointment.

A superior officer should not draw any portion of the salary of a junior officer

in the same department when absent, even in cases where extra work is entailed owing to the vacancy not being filled up.

11. Incidental to leave of absence is the subject of Passages. A return pas- sage to Great Britain, and in particular in the case of a married officer with a family, is a complete impediment to leave. We recommend that free passages when on leave be granted to an officer and his family in the manner set out in Schedule III. free passage should also be granted to an officer and his family in like manner on retirement.

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12. We were invited by certain officers to recommend that pensions be granted in the case of all officers after 25 years' service and on reaching 50 years of age: and exceptional claims for additional pension were also urged on the ground of the time involved in acquiring the professional or technical qualifications required before joining the service in certain departments. We are unable to make such a recommendation or to urge any such special consideration having regard to the period, now conceded, for tropical reasons. in the assessment of pensions. We see no sufficient reason to interfere with the existing system, save as is recommended in the next two succeeding paragraphs.

13. We recognise the onerous and exacting duties that are placed upon the Nursing Staff in the Government Hospitals, and we recommend that they be allowed to retire on pension at the age of 45 years if they have served a period of 20 years in this or any other Colony. The pension to be calculated according to the scheme recently sanctioned with regard to the Police Force.

We take the liberty of observing that the Nursing Staff is in our opinion insufficient, and should be augmented so as to allow every sister or nurse one day off duty in every week. Such a respite is essential for the proper discharge of their work.

14. We consider that the members of the Police Force should be entitled to retire on pension at the age of 45 years provided they have accomplished 20 years' service.

15. We desire to represent that in the proposed increase of the salaries of School Masters under the Education Department we are of opinion that the duties