CO885-(18-19) — Page 260

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

To To Ti

Reference:→→→

C.O.885

18 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

Expenses.

Initial cost.

Annual

cost.

On the

basis of

revenue.

On the basis of eadets

employed

50

All appointments to the instructional staff should be made by the Secretary of State on the recommendation of the Colonial Survey Committee.

8. The expenses of the School may be divided into two sub-heads, viz., the initial cost of starting the School in buildings, furniture, and instruments; and the annual cost of running the establishment in salaries, upkeep of stores, &c.

I will deal first with the division of these expenses and will conclude with suggestions of the action to be adopted should a third Colony utilise the services of ex-cadets.

probably not exceed £700,

(a) The initial cost of starting the School will which is based on the following approximate list :—

6 Theodolites

25 Compasses

25 Sets of drawing instruments

Steel tapes and chains

3 Levels

---

5 Plane tables

about £200

50

20

11

50

33

50

20

11

Barometers, thermometers, clinometers, Abney

levels, &c.

100

Miscellaneous instruments

30

Building alterations, forms, blackboards, &c....

200

£700

The initial cost will not, however, involve actual expenditure to the amount mentioned, as a very large proportion of the stores enumerated in the list are already in the possession of the Gold Coast Survey, which has a large surplus stock owing to the reduction of its staff. I suggest that half the value of the instruments handed over by, say, the Gold Coast Colony for the use of the School (allowing for depreciation, if any) should be reckoned as part of that Colony's contribution towards initial cost, and that the other half should be paid to the Gold Coast by Southern Nigeria as the latter's part contribution, and vice versa.

I do not consider that the original cost of any existing building that may be utilised should be reckoned as a contribution to the initial cost by either Colony, as, if the School ceases to exist, the building will be available for other local Govern- ment uses. Any alterations, however, should be divided on the principle mentioned below.

I consider that the total initial cost of the School should be divided equally between the two Colonies. Should, however, any further refinement be considered necessary, I suggest that a readjustment of the initial cost may be made after the School has been in existence for five years, when the total numbers of ex-cadets employed during that period respectively by the two Colonies may be used as a basis on which to calculate what has been the proportional value of the School to the respective Colonies. The Colony that has benefited more by the cadets should then refund a proportion of the initial cost to the other Colony.

It will, however, scarcely be deemed necessary to split hairs in this way.

(b) There are three chief methods by which the annual cost of the school may be proportionately adjusted between the two Colonies.

(e) The first and simplest way would be to divide the expenses between the two Colonies in proportion to their anticipated respective revenues for the year.

Reckoning the normal annual cost as £2,400, on the basis of the estimated revenues for 1907, Southern Nigeria would pay £1,500 and the Gold Coast £900 and the two Colonies would, respectively, be entitled to have this proportion of cadets at the school.

(d) The second method of apportioning the burden of cost between the Colonies is more complicated and takes longer to effect. To begin with, the Colonies must share equally every year in the expenses, adjustment being made afterwards.

Let the total cost of the School per annum be divided into the same number of parts as there are cadets. We shall thus ascertain what each cadet costs a year. For example, by the proposal for the organisation of the School hereafter given, it will be seen that a cadet's annual cost is approximately £100, or his total education for three years approximately £300.

(N.B.-During the first three years of the School's existence it will be found

51

possible to reduce the length of the course for many cadets with previous experience so that the total cost per head will be lessened.)

To continue the example. At the end of the year 1912 (say), under normal conditions seven cadets will complete their education. Suppose four are appointed to Government posts in Southern Nigeria and three in the Gold Coast. cadets have been at the School for the period 1910-1912, during which the School These seven has altogether cost, say, £7,200. The Gold Coast receives three cadets (or £900 worth), and Southern Nigeria four cadets (or £1,200 worth). The former should, therefore, bear three-sevenths of the expense and the latter four-sevenths, that is, of the £7,200 for the three years the Gold Coast should pay £3,090 and Southern Nigeria £4,110. As the Gold Coast has already paid £3,600, it therefore follows that the amount of £510 must be refunded by Southern Nigeria for the period 1910-

1912.

This adjustment is not, however, final for the year 1911 and 1912, but another adjustment must be made for those cadets who receive appointments in the following year for the period 1911-1913.

am afraid it will prove

The system is undoubtedly complicated but fair. unworkable, if such difficulties as are introduced every time a cadet obtains civil employment, or an ex-cadet leaves civil employment and accepts Government ser- vice, are taken notice of. The only way to make it workable is to make the number of cadets receiving appointments every year a fixed basis of calculation which subse- quent movements cannot alter.

(e) The third method is for each Colony to forecast its probable requirements On the in surveyors, for the number so required to be educated, and for the cost to be portionately divided.

pro-

basis of annual require-

The system seems simple, but in reality has many disadvantages. A Colony ments. would have to estimate its requirements three years ahead, which is hardly prac ticable. Then, again, there would be no surplus stock of trained surveyors created on which to draw in emergency, or for replacing casualties.

mated revenues.

(f) I recommend the adoption of the first method, viz., the division of the Method of annual cost of the school between the two Governments in proportion to their esti- division of each Colony becomes entitled to the services of a number of cadets proportionate mended.

It possesses the advantages of simplicity and of fairness, because annual cost to its contribution.

recom-

(g) I feel certain that the Colonies of Sierra Leone and the Gambia, and even Employ- those in British East Africa, could advantageously to themselves make use of the ment of surveyors and draughtsmen trained in the School.

If these Colonies wish for a large and immediate supply of native surveyors, they should join with the Gold Coast and Southern Nigeria in the formation of the School, but should they be content to wait until the needs of the latter have been satisfied, then they should be called on to pay a contribution to the school of £100 for each cadet they employed.

At first sight it may be seen that this restriction would lead other Colonies to employ men trained elsewhere than at the School, but on reflection it may be con- coded that their Governments will have the wisdom to employ men who have been proved reliable in character and have received the sound practical training that it is hoped will distinguish all who have been Survey cadets rather than the many unproven individuals who label themselves as surveyors,

ex-cadets

other

colonies.

9. The staff will consist of one Chief Instructor, and one Instructor (Europeans), Instruc- and two Assistant Instructors (natives).

45

The Chief Instructor may in addition select three or four cadets as temporary "Cadet-teachers" whenever he considers such a course necessary. These men will receive an extra salary of 10s. per month while so employed. During at least the first year of the School's existence the cadet-teachers will be selected from men who have already had practical experience while attached to field parties and who are completing their education as surveyors.

In the event of it being found necessary to abolish or reduce the School, appoint- ments in the survey branches of the various departments in the West African Colonies may be found for the instructional staff. A clause to this effect should be included

in the agreements. The staff will all come under the usual Colonial Office rules and regulations applying to permanent officials, salary, &c.

29491

G1

tional staff.