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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

C.O.

Reference :-

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ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPHANOT TO

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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Subordinate Clerical Service.

34. The only alteration which appears to be desirable in the proposals for this Service is the raising of the increment from Rs. 36 to Rs. 48. This would enable a clerk to reach his maximum in almost the same number of years as at present. I would request your sanction to an amended scale of Rs. 480-48-1,200, Efficiency Bars before Rs. 768 and Rs. 1,008. The same amendment is necessary in the Railway Subordinate Clerical Service.

Harbour Engineer's Clerical Staff.

35. At present there are two main divisions of this staff, one being pensionable and receiving the same rates of salary as clerks in the Customs, the other being non- pensionable and on a special salary scheme. The recommendation of the Commis- sion is that these clerks should be placed on the Customs Scale. I would endorse this recommendation as regards the pensionable staff, but would recommend that the present non-pensionable staff should remain non-pensionable and should be granted the following scale :-

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Rs. 480-~10 of 90--1.380. Efficiency Bar before Rs. 1,020.

Survey Department: Extra Clerks and Draughtsmen.

*

36. These clerks are at present on a scale of Rs. 240-30-540. The Commission propose in their case a scale of Rs. 600-48-1,080. I would suggest that this Service should for the future be graded with the Subordinate Clerical Service on Rs. 480-48- 1,200, Efficiency Bars before Rs. 768 and Rs. 1,008. I see no sufficient reason for the differentiation proposed by the Salaries Commission.

Head 4: Secretariat.

37. I concur in the recommendations of the Commission. I would, however, further press upon you the necessity which has long been felt that some special consideration should be shown to the staff of this, the most important office in the Colony, with a view to retain the services of the most capable members of the clerical service for the exceptionally heavy and responsible work transacted there. At present, notwithstanding the grant of the "Headquarter Allowance" (vide para- graph 101 of the report), which this office shares with five other offices, there is a constant tendency on the part of Secretariat clerks to seek transfer to other offices which seem to offer better chances of obtaining special promotion. The Colonial Secretary is of opinion that the best way of dealing with the situation is, not to grant any further all-round increase, but to improve the emoluments of certain individual posts of special importance-viz., the posts of Superintendents of the Registration, Precis, and Correspondence Branches, which are at present filled by clerks of Class I. These posts might fitly be graded in the special class, but this cannot be done without unfairness to other departments if the Special Class is only to be increased by seven posts, as recommended by the Commission. In the circum- stances I suggest, with the concurrence of the Colonial Secretary that the holders of the three posts mentioned be given a non-pensionable allowance to bring their salary up to the initial salary of the Special Class until such time as opportunity occurs to promote them individually to that class. There is one other clerk who deserves special consideration, viz., the chief confidential clerk, for whom I would recommend a non-pensionable allowance of Rs. 300 per annum, subject to the restriction that his total salary plus allowance shall not exceed the initial pay of the Special Class.

Head 4a: Secretariat—Printing Branch.

38. I am in substantial agreement with the proposals of the Commission, but would suggest a few minor amendments.

Government Printer and Assistant Government Printer.

39. The work of the Printing Office is steadily increasing in importance and in volume. It would in my opinion be advisable to grant to the Government Printer and the Assistant Government Printer the same salaries as are proposed for the Government Storekeeper and his assistant, £700-30-850 and £450-25-650.

Head Clerk.

40. The head clerk has to supervise the work of a large staff, and I consider the maximum proposed, Rs. 2700, rather too low. I would recommend that it be raised to Rs. 9000.

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41. With these small modifications I would recommend the adoption of the Commission's proposals.

Head 5 Controller of Revenue. Head 6: Treasury.

Head 6a: Loan Board.

Head 6b: Stamp Office.

42. I concur in the recommendations under these heads.

Head 7: Audit Office.

43. I concur in the views expressed by the Commission and recommend adop tion of their proposals. The Colonial Auditor has protested against the nou- adoption of his proposals for the creation of ten minor staff posts in his office, but I consider that the view taken by the Commission is sound and that it is not practic- able, on grounds of general policy, to treat one department in so exceptional a manner as proposed by Mr. Woods. the Clerical Service, such promotions are made on merit, and I consider that audit As regards promotion to the Special Class of officers should rank with others eligible for such promotion, for consideration and selection by Government in the usual course.

Head 8: Provincial Administration.

44. After careful consideration of the proposals under this head, and of a number of representations addressed to Government relative thereto, I find myself generally in agreement with the recommendations of the Commission.

45.

The report of the Headmen's Commission, to which allusion is made in paragraph 125, was received by Government in November last and is now being printed, but it will be some considerable time before the recommendation contained therein can be considered and decisions arrived at by the Government. This need not, however, delay the consideration of the present report, as, by arrangement between the two Commissions, the emoluments of Chief Headmen have been dealt with by the Salaries Commission, while the Headmen's Commission have submitted proposals as regards the minor headmen, the great majority of whom at present draw no salary.

46.

As regards the Mudaliyars and other Chief Headmen, I approve of the Commission's proposal to grade them in three classes on salaries of Rs. 3,600, Rs. 3000, and Rs. 2400 respectively. Although this represents an increase of 100 to 200 per cent. on their present substantive salary, I am satisfied that it is no more than sufficient to meet the requirements of the case. It has long been felt that the salary of Rs. 1200 per annum paid to these officers is entirely incommen- surate with the importance and value of the services rendered by them, and this has only been justified on the ground that these officers were, as a rule, "local dignitaries of high standing and much influence, and possessed of considerable landed property within their divisions," who took up the office not for the sake of the emoluments, but for the honours and dignity attaching to the posts" (vide paragraph 461 of the 1912 Salary Committee's report in Sessional Paper XXXV, 1912). The duties imposed on these officers have, however, of late years become so multifarious and their responsibilities so great, that the payment of a salary which is "really in the nature of an honorarium to compensate them for the expenses which they incur in the performance of their official duties" (Ibid.) can in my opinion no longer be defended, and therefore the proposals of the Salaries Commis sion have my entire approval.

47. The allocation of the existing posts, or their holders, among the three classes proposed will require very careful consideration, in full consultation with the Government agents, and I propose to take up the matter upon receipt of your approval of the general scheme.

48. As regards the Presidents of Village Tribunals I have carefully con- sidered the bearing of the proposal as regards the Chief Headmen upon these officers, who form the minor judiciary of the Island, and are at present in receipt of salaries higher than those of the Chief Headmen; but I am satisfied that upon a comparison of the importance of the respective offices, the scale of Rs. 2100-60- 2700 proposed for the presidents is adequate. It is a well-known fact that, even at present, the office of Chief Headman, though carrying a lower salary, is sought after by presidents, a certain indication of the correctness of the general estimate that the former is the more important and responsible position.

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