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Mr. Grant Duff (Under Secretary of State)- replied in the negative-" they are the servants of the Colonial Governments, paid from Colonial not Imperial funds, nor is Her Majesty's Govern- ment in any way responsible for their actions.”

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On 2nd May, 1881, in reply to Mr. Anderson 7679 81. in House of Commons, Mr. Grant Duff said that the Crown Agents are appointed by the Secre tary of State for the Colonies as a guarantee to the Colonies who entrust their affairs to them that they are dealing with responsible and efficient persons, but they are paid by the Colonies not by the Imperial Government and they enter into engagements with the public on hehalf of the Colonies not of the Secretary of State or of any member of the Imperial Govern- ment."

On 4th May, 1881, Mr. Anderson put down a 7901 81. motion to call attention to the anomalous position of officers who are called the Crown Agents for the Colonies and yet are not servants of the Crown, who are appointed by the Govern- ment, instructed by the Government to issue loans, and yet for whose actions the Government denies all responsibility, and to move that in the opinion of this House conditions so contradictory are misleading to the public and to investors and ought to be changed." Mr. Graut Duff minuted

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The name is of course somewhat clumsy and we cannot defend it too strongly if it is seriously attacked." No report that motion was ever put.

Appointment of Staj,

The staff of the Crown Agents office are selected by the Crown Agents without examina tion or control by the Secretary of State. They are liable to be dismissed at the pleasure of the Crown Agents.

On 31st July, 1906, Mr. Walker, M.P., asked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies "Whether the clerks in the Crown Agents' offices are still selected by nomination alone and whether any steps will be taken to place these appointinents upon a competitive 2747 4 basis, under the control of the Civil Service Commission." The reply returned by Mr. Churchill was I am desired by the Secretary of State to say that the internal administration of the office of the Crown Agents for the Colonics is entirely in their hands, and that as the holders of these appointments are members of the Civil Service, there is no intention of adopting the course suggested by the hon. member."

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On 13th December, 1906, Mr. Walker asked whether the Secretary of State will, in the exercise of his general control and supervision 4522 M. over the conduct of the business of the Crown

Agents, consider whether greater efficienry

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would ensue if the present system, under which appointments to the staff of the Crown Agents' Office are made by nomination and without an examination of any kind, were replaced by a system under which candidates were required to enter for a competitive examination in open competition."

Mr. Churchill's reply was-"It is obviously desirable that appointments to Government services should be made either by competitive examination or by selection after standard examination. The Secretary of State will consider whether such a reform can be con- veniently effected in the system of appointment to the staff of the Crown Agents' Office. But the questions connected with such a change are complex, and no decision can be taken upon them at present; and the Secretary of State must not be taken as admitting that there is any lack of efficiency."

On 4th February, 1908, Mr. Claude Hay, M.P., asked—“ Whether the Secretary of State is satisfied with the existing constitution and administration of the office of the Crown Agents for the Colonies; what are the arrangements and conditions under which clerks enter this Office, whether they undergo a competitive examination conducted by the Civil Service Commissioners, as in the case of other Govern- ment Departments, and if not will he say why this is not done,”

The following is Hansard's account of the reply:-

Mr. Churchill: The hon. member is no doubr aware of the exhaustive inquiry instituted in 1901 by the right hon. member for West Birmingham and of the views expressed in a published despatch of 26th February, 1904, which emanated from the late Colonial Secretary. The Secretary of State informs me that he accepts generally the position assumed by his predecessors with regard to the Office of the Crown Agents. The clerks in the Office are not Civil Servants and are therefore not subject to the conditions under which Civil Servants enter the service. They are nominated by the Crown Agents, who are responsible for their selection and for the adequate performance of their duties.

Mr. Claude Hay was understood to ask if the right hon. gentlenian will consider the propriety of making a change in this matter.

Mr. Churchill said this question had received a great deal of consideration, and it was one on which great differences of opinion existed. could not say at the present moment whether any change would be made. He did not think any new matters would be brought to notice other than those set out in the despatches of the late t'olonial Secretary.

On the 11th of February, 1908, in reply to further questions by Mr. Claude Hay, "Mr. Churchill said : --

The Senior Crown Ageut for the Colonies receives £2,500 a year. As I explained to the hon, member on Tuesday last, the Crown Agents are not Civil Servants and the true position is to