CO885-(18-19) — Page 676

Prvan. 16.

Para 4.

Σχίν

CROWN AGENTS' ENQUIRY COMMITTEE:

Department through which officials and other persons connected with the Crown Colonies visiting England could get into better touch with the Crown Agents and obtain the benefit of their good offices.

(23) Lastly, the Committee recommend that information regarding the revenue and expenditure of the Crown Agents' Office, and the salaries paid, should be published annually, and of course communicated to the Colonial Governments. They further suggest that Parliament should be given a better opportunity than exists at present, for reviewing the operations of the Office.

99. Owing in part to the absence at present of definite scales of salary for the staff of the Crown Agents' Office, it is not possible to state the exact financial effect of the changes recommended in this Report. The Committee, however, are satisfied that their recommendations, while providing for the efficient conduct of the business of the Office, will cause no large immediate increase in its cost, and will eventually lead to substantial economies.

100. In conclusion, the Committee desire to express their appreciation of the services of their Secretary, Mr. A. J. Harding, who, throughout the enquiry, has given them the greatest assistance by his ability, his zeal, and his intimate knowledge of the subject.

MINUTES OF EVIDENCE

TAKEN BEFORE THE

CROWN AGENTS ENQUIRY COMMITTEE.

FIRST DAY,

Friday, 12th June, 1908.

At the Colonial Office, Downing Street.

PRESENT:

COLONEL J. E. B SEELY, D.S.O., M.P. (Chairman),

The Rt. Hon. Sir P. MowATT, G.C.B., 1.9.0.

Sir RALPH Mook, K.C.M.G.

H. J. GIBSON, Esq. (*.B.

R. BAILEY, Esq., M.V.O., I.8.0.

Sir ALBERT SPICER. Bart., M.P. C. A. HARRIS, Esq., C.B., C.M.G.

A. J. HARDING (Secretary),

A. J. HARDING,

Secretary,

10th December, 1908.

LTL ། ། །

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O.885

19 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

JOHN EDWARD BERNARD SEELY.

FRANCIS MOWATT.

ALBERT SPICER.

R. MOOR.

H: J. GIBSON.

R. BAILEY.

STANLEY LEATHES.

C. ALEXANDER HARRIS.

Sir ERNEST BLAKE, K.C.M.G. (Senior

1. (Chairman.) You know that the Terms of Reference, as we interpret them, include only a general survey for our information of what work is done and how it is done, with a view to our deciding whether changes are desirable or not; but, even with regard to that general survey, we thought it better to-day to leave that out and to confiue our questions to you, and you might please confine the evidence you give to us, to the exact particulars contained in the Terms of Reference, viz., "the conditions of tenure, the scale of payment of salaries and pensions, and how far arrangements in the office of the Crown Agents for the Colonies are in accord, or can be brought into harmony" (and we should like to know whether in your judgment they should be brought into harmony) with the principles governing the Civil Service. The first question is, of course, the best method of selecting the clerical and technical staff, and I should think you would probably be able to give us your evidence with regard to that in your own words 7-May I ask one question, sir, before I begin any evidence, and that is, What is the reason for this inquiry? This office has gone on for nearly fifty years, and I think I am entitled to say that it has had the confidence of previous Secretaries of State, and Lord Elgin is the first man who has ever instituted an inquiry without having a prima facie case against the office.

2. Of course, we do not officially know in the least why; it was settled in the time of my predecessor in the office I now hold, but it is sufficiently apparent that a number of questions have been asked in "Parlia ment, and there has been a general agitation as to whether the methods of selecting the staff are the best possible, and the Secretary of State, in his discretion, decided that it was desirable to have a Committee, and here we are. Beyond that, frankly, I know noth- ing, nor do I think there is anything to know-Have you any objection, sir, to my reading the letter I addressed to the Under-Secretary before the Com- mittee was decided upon, because it puts our view of the caso very clearly

3. I have seen that letter?-Yes, Lord Crewe has had a copy of it, but I should like the Committee to know the view we ourselves take, if you have no objection.

• 21

Crown Agent), called and examined.

4. I have certainly no objection, and I think the Committee would be glad to hear it-This letter was written on the 8th February of this year. I will hand in a copy afterwards.

Dear Sir Francis Hopwood.-I shall be glad to come over to the Colonial Office if you or the Secre tary of State should wish to consult me as to the propused further questions of Mr. Claude Hay, M.P., in the House of Commons as to this office. In any case, however, it seems desirable in the interests of this office that the Secretary of State should know how I regard the matter." (I have written this from my point of view because I have such a very much longer experience and standing than my colleagues, and also my tenure is rapidly coming to an end, and therefore I can speak with a far greater independence than my colleagues can.) "The whole difficulty has, in my opinion, arisen from the half-hearted manner in which the pre- vious questions have been answered. It is hardly to be wondered at that Parliament and the public should be suspicious of the Crown Agents when the Colonial Office assumes an uncertain attitude in the matter. I have repeatedly asked successive Secre- taries of State to inspect this office and its organisa tion, and nothing would please me more than to be subjected by the Secretary of State or by yourself to a close examination as to the manner in which we conduct our business. It is, however, a totally different matter to agree to the suggestion that à public inquiry is necessary. I am perfectly certain that the office is sound from top to bottom and that it would come triumphantly out of any inquiry, but an inquiry would be an intolerable burden on us as stopping business which is frequently of a most urgent character, and a Committee would feel itself almost bound to make some recommendations as to the way in which our business should be carried on. and it is likely enough that these recommendations would, in many cases, prove very embarrassing both to the Secretary of State and ourselves, and I would submit that it is unfair to us that we should be subjected to any inquiry before a primâ facie case has been made out against us. The Crown Agents Office has been established in the interests of the Colonial Office as well as of the Colonies. It assures

A

པ ་ ་ ་ ་ -,

ACCORD OFFICE |

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO