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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

I. kk k

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and to Mr. Severn, for the careful consideration which you have given to the whole

matter.

I have, &c.,

(for the Secretary of State)

L. S. AMERY P.S.-I should be glad if you would let me have, as soon as possible, several copies of a summary of the changes now made as regards salaries and other condi- tions of service, so far as they are settled, for guidance in offering appointments in this country.

Enclosure 2 in No. 5.

STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.

(Extract from paragraph 385 of the Report of the Commissions to enquire into certain matters relating to the public service of the Straits Settlements and the Federated Malay States, dated April, 1919.)

Payment of Passages of Officers Proceeding on Leave and Returning from Leave. 1. As a temporary measure of relief, pending such action as may be taken on the report of the Commission which is about to inquire into the salaries of certain appointments on the Sterling Scheme, the grant of passages to officers pro- ceeding on furlough to Europe will be made by the Government in certain cases and under the following conditions. The grant will be an act of grace, and not a matter of right, and will be confined to the cases of officers, having a domicile in Europe or the Dominions, holding appointments in Appendices A and B to the Sterling Scheme of which the maximum salary, excluding duty allowance, exceeds £360 per annum.

2. (1) When such an officer is granted furlough to Europe, after four years' resident service since joining the Government service, or since his last return from furlough, he will be given a first-class return passage from Singapore, or Penang, to England. This passage will be taken by mail steamer if the officer's salary exceeds £600 per annum (exclusive of duty allowance), and otherwise by intermediate steamer, or second-class by mail steamer if no intermediate steamer is available.

(2) When an officer is granted furlough to Europe before the completion of four years' resident service since his last return from furlough, a proportion of the cost of his passage, or passages, may be paid by the Government at the rate of one quarter for each completed year of resident service since his last return from furlough.

8. If the officer proposes to retire from the service upon the expiration of his furlough, a homeward passage, or passages, only will be issued.

4. If the officer is married, his wife will be given a similar passage by the same steamer. Passages will also be granted in respect of such of the officer's children as are under the age of sixteen years and accompany him by the steamer. 5. No passages will be paid for any relatives or dependents other than the Above.

6. If any officer to whom a passage has been granted under this circular resigns the Government service, or retires from the Government service otherwise than upon medical certificate, or having reached the age limit, within two years of his return from furlough, he shall be liable to refund to the Government the difference between the cost of a return passage, or passages, and a single passage, or passages.

7. Free or assisted passages to England and back may be provided for the wife and children of an officer when they are not accompanied on the voyage by

the officer:

(a) When the officer, after having served four years since his last return from long leave, is detained in the Straits Settlements by the exigencies of the Government service; or

(b) When a Government medical officer certifies that it is necessary upon medical grounds that the wife or one of the children should proceed to England without delay.

8. In every case where the privilege is conceded, the passage will be taken by the Government, and will be by the usual direct route. If the officer's plans

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involve a departure from the usual direct route, or preclude his making use of the passage which would ordinarily be procured by the Government, he may be granted such sum towards the cost of his passage, or passages, as the Governor. in the circumstances of the case, may think fit.

9. The provisions of this circular are applicable mutatis mutandis, to officers proceeding on furlough to Australasia, Canada, or the Union of South Africa, and may be extended to such other cases as may appear to the Governor to merit similar consideration.

10. This circular applies to officers taking furlough on or after the 12th August, 1918. In the case of officers who were on furlough on that date, or whose families on that date had left the Straits Settlements and had not returned, the grant of the cost of one half of a return passage will be made.

Enclosure 9 in No. 5.

CEYLON.

(Extracted from despatch from Governor of Ceylon, No. 512, dated 6th August, 1919.)

Government Scheme for Passages for Public Officers.

1. Free return passages, first or second-class, at the option of Government, may be granted to all deserving officers whose emoluments, inclusive of all allow- ances, etc., amount to less than £600 (Rs.9,000) per annum.

2. Such free passages may be granted for the officer himself, his wife, and

On first appointment.

bis children, and the privilege may be allowed as follows:-

(b) On proceeding on leave and returning from leave after any period of

four years' of resident service in the Colony.

(c) On proceeding on and returning from leave granted on medical certifi-

cate or on the ground of urgent private affairs.

3. Married officers drawing salaries of from £600 (Rs.9,000) to £900 (Rs.13,500) will be required to contribute monthly for a period of four years a sum of Rs.30, and unmarried officers drawing similar salaries a sum of Rs.10 monthly to a passage fund.

4. At the end of each period of four years, should the officer proceed on leave, the Government will contribute an amount equal to the officer's contribu- tions, Rs.1,440 in the case of married officers, and Rs.480 in the case of unmarried officers. Provided always that the amount of the Government contribution shall in no case exceed half the cost of the actual passages paid for. Provided also that the Government may at any time within four years from the date of which this scheme shall come into operation make a contribution to any deserving officer of a sum not exceeding one half the amount actually paid by him for a passage or passages for himself and his wife and, or, his children, such sum not to exceed Rs. 1,440 in the case of a married officer and Rs.480 in the case of an unmarried officer, not- withstanding that at the time he may not have an equal sum standing to his credit in the fund.

5. Simple interest at the rate of four per cent. per annum will be paid on the amount of each officer's contribution. Any amount still standing to the credit of the officer in the fund after payment of the required passages will be paid to the officer when he goes on leave.

6. In the event of an officer proceeding on leave on medical certificate, or on the ground of urgent private affairs, or should an officer wish to send his wife and, or. children home, before the completion of the period of four years, he may be allowed to draw the whole or part of the money standing to his credit in the fund, and the Government may contribute an amount equal to the officer's own contribu- tions up to the date of withdrawal. Provided always that the Government con- tribution shall in no case exceed half the actual cost of the passages paid for.

7. In the case of an officer whose salary rises above £800 per annum within the four years' period above referred to, he will contribute from the date of the increase of his salary above £600, and he may be given the proportion of the cost of free passages to the period served on a salary of less than £600, the balance being made up by his own and the Government contributions.

8. When the amount standing to an officer's credit in the fund, if added to the amount of the Government contribution makes the total sum equal to the

Reference :-

C.O.

882 /10

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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