393
I
8
levies in Tropical Africa and British Guiana but less than Mauritius and British Honduras.
No allowances in Ceylon have been cut as far as has been notified to us whereas in other Colonies generally suspension or substantial reduction of standard allowances has been effected.--Ends.-HAMILTON.
C 93105/32 [No. 5].
•
No. 7.
THE HIGH COMMISSIONER IN CANADA FOR HIS MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT
IN THE UNITED KINGDOM
to
THE ACTING SECRETARY OF STATE.
+
(Received 10.10 p.m., 9th August, 1932.)
TELEGRAM.
9TH AUGUST. Imperial Conference. No. 272. Your telegram No. 298.* Following for Wilson from Secretary of State for the Colonies:-
Several important considerations are raised by Ministers' proposals. First the principle that under the Constitution the Civil Service have certain guarantees and the Secretary of State and Governor are guardians of these rights. This position must be strictly maintained.
Second. I have laid down principle that where emergency taxation is necessary this must be accompanied by a temporary cut in salaries. This cut is intended to be a temporary levy. It is not intended and should not be used to vary basic condition of service. Suspension of pension commutations is therefore unjustifiable as a temporary levy.
Third. I have not prescribed a uniform scale of cuts for all Colonies but it is clearly desirable that where need for an emergency cut is established measure of It sacrifice should be fairly comparable in Colonies where conditions are similar. would appear from your telegram No. 298 that cuts already made in Ceylon conform to this principle as regards salary cuts. But I am not clear whether absence of any reduction in allowances made Ceylon cuts less onerous than combined salary and allowances cuts in other Colonies. It is important in taking our stand on the question of principle that we should be satisfied that levy we have already imposed is fair I cannot assess equivalent of salary and allowances cuts in comparable Colonies. this here but you and Governor must be completely satisfied on this point for your selves. Case on merits must be unassailable. If in comparison with other Colonies some further adjustment is called for in salaries or allowances this should be made in manner which you and Governor agree to be fair. Subject to this condition the Governor has my complete support in refusing to permit Council to encroach on rights of public servants under the Constitution or his function as guardian of those rights.
My colleagues have seen and approve this telegram.
Please send following personal message to Prime Minister with documents :- I have I am asking Wilson to send you Ceylon telegrams and explanatory note. discussed these telegrams with colleagues here and we all agree that we must support the Governor in resisting attack on Civil Service conditions and his status as their guardian.
C 93105/32 [No 7].
No. 8.
THE ACTING SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNOR. (Sent 4.40 p.m., 10th August, 1932.)
TELEGRAM.
[Ansuered by No. 9.]
No. 170. YOUR telegram No. 170.* Following from Wilson:—-
Begins: Secretary of State disposed to accept your recommendations but wishes assurance on following point. Salary cuts in Ceylon appear to be at least as severe as those approved in other Colonies where similar financial position exists but in certain Colonies travelling subsistence and other local allowances have also been reduced. What allowances actually are drawn in Ceylon and to what extent have they been reduced.-Ends.-HAMILTON.
C. 93105/32 [No. 8].
No. 9.
THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
(Received 2.51
p.m., 12th August, 1932.)
TELEGRAM.
12TH AUGUST. No. 176. Your telegram No. 170.† Allowances in Ceylon generally applicable and not restricted to particular Departments are rent, transport, and subsistence allowances and overtime. See financial regulations No. 975, 976, 1181, and 1171 to 1175. Rent allowance has not been reduced but maxima have been reduced. See my despatch of 30th May No. 300.‡ With very few exceptions all Ceylon salaries carry rent allowance and have been fixed with special reference to the fact that rent allowance is payable. Great majority of officers draw rent allowance. Small minority in occupation of Government quarters. Rent calculated to equalize positions of officers in Government quarters and officers not in Government quarters. Transport allowances have not yet been reduced, but reduction of roughly 25 per cent. will come into force on 1st September next. Subsistence allowance and lodging allowance now under examination with a view to reduction. In Ceylon transport, subsistence, lodging, and commuted allowances are definitely calculated to reimburse actual expenses incurred in travelling and officers can claim no other payment in respect of travelling. No reduction of these allowances greater than is warranted by the fall in cost of travelling could be effected without curtailing amount of travelling done or compelling officers to incur personal expenditure on travelling. I understand that in certain Colonies travelling, transport, subsistence, or commuted allowances are in effect part of officers' emolu- ments or regarded as compensation for inconvenience or hardship of travelling. This is not so in Ceylon, where such allowances no more than replace out-of-pocket expenses. Overtime rates not reduced, but every effort made to reduce overtime, which is not a normal feature in Ceylon except in a few Departments, such as railways, Port Com- mission, and Post Office. Other allowances are applicable only to particular Depart- ments and payable for special services or in special circumstances. See estimates for 1931-1932. There has been no general reduction of departmental allowances but reductions and abolitions have been made in isolated cases. Proposals for other reductions are under consideration. State Council passed yesterday by 34 votes to 3 motion recommending to the Governor and Secretary of State suspension of payment of commuted pensions till such time as the Council might otherwise determine in view of heavy short fall of revenue and financial situation generally.
* No. 6.
* No. 3.
† No. 8.
C. 93089/32 [No. 1]: not printed.
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