CO885-(18-19) — Page 661

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

REPORT

MINUTES OF EVIDENCE

APPENDICES:

PAGE

iii.

1

CROWN AGENTS' ENQUIRY COMMITTEE.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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Reference :-

C.O.885

19 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

REPORT to the Right Honourable the EARL OF CREWE, K.G., P.C., &c., &c., Secretary of State for the Colonies.

PART 1.

PRELIMINARY.

1. The terms of reference to the Committee, as stated by the Chairman in the House of Commons on the 7th of May, were as follows:-

"To report upon the best method of selecting the clerical and technical "staff for the Office of the Crown Agents for the Colonies, and particularly "to consider the conditions of tenure, the scale of payment of salaries and "pensions, and how far arrangements in that Office are in accord, or can be "brought into harmony, with the principles governing the Civil Service."

2. The Committee has held 24 meetings, of which 16 have been occupied in taking the oral evidence of 29 witnesses. A Sub-Committee, consisting of Sir F. Mowatt and Mr. Leathes, made a personal inspection of the Crown Agents' Office on the 11th of July, and reported the result of their visit to the Committee.

3. At the conclusion of the general evidence, a Sub-Committee consisting of Sir A. Spicer, Sir R. Moor, Mr. Bailey, and Mr. Harris was appointed, and further evidence was taken on the subject of the Crown Agents' shipping and packing arrangements. The Sub-Committee held four meetings, and examined seven witnesses.

4. In view of questions asked in the House of Commons by Mr. J. D. Rees, C.V.O., C.I.E., Mr. H. de R. Walker and the Honourable C. G. Hay, invitations to give evidence before the Committee were sent to those gentlemen. Mr. Rees accepted the invitation and gave evidence; Mr. Walker was prevented from doing so by reasons of health, but favoured the Committee with a memorandum which will be found printed among the Appendices, while Mr. Hay was unable to give evidence, but Appendix V. suggested that Mr. E. Walker (of the firm of Walker, Sons & Co., London and Colombo) should be called as a witness, a course which was adopted by the Committee.

5. The following were called as witnesses possessing either special Colonial experience or a particular knowledge of transactions with the Crown Agents:-

Sir H. A. Blake, G.C.M.G.

Sir F. A. Swettenham, K.C.M.G.

Sir R. B. Llewelyn, K.C.M.G.

formerly Colonial Governors.

Sir H. F. Wilson, K.C.M.G., recently Colonial Secretary of the Orange River

Colony.

Sir Bradford Leslie, K.C.I.E., a Civil Engineer, who was called on the

suggestion of Mr. Rees.

Mr. J. R. Nicholson, the Chairman and Managing Engineer of the Tanjong

Pagar Dock Board (Singapore).

Mr. C. V. Bellamy, Director of Public Works, Southern Nigeria.

Mr. W. L. Griffith, Secretary to the High Commissioner for Canada.

Mr. J. A. Mullens, of the firm of Mullens, Marshall and Company.

6. Mr. E. G. Burls, C.S.I. and Mr. H. W. Badock gave evidence respecting the organisation and methods in force in the Stores and Accountant-General's Departments

I. Organisation of the Crown Agents' Office (June, 1908)

201

II. List of Salaries (June, 1908)

204

III. Table of Fixed Contributions payable to the Crown Agents for the

Year 1908

207

IV. Statement of Receipts and Expenditure of the Office for 1907

207

V. Memorandum communicated by Mr. H. de R. Walker, M.P.

208

VI. Report of Committee appointed by the Crown Agents in 1904, with

marginal notes by Sir E. Blake (1908) -

-

208

VII. Statement of the Establishment of the Store Department of the

India Office

212

VIII. Statement of the Establishment of the Accountant General's

Department of the India Office

-

213

IX, Memorandum by the Crown Agents on certain points of the

Evidence

215

X. Memorandum by the Crown Agents on the Evidence taken by the Sub-Committee on Shipping and Packing Arrangements

XI. Memorandum by the Crown Agents on the Salaries of their Staff

·

217

219

INDEX

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223

50-Wr. L. 1704. 1/00 J. T. & S.

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