CO885-(21-23) — Page 448

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 885

22 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE

BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC. COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

State of

N. P.

survey staff.

Remoly combina-

48

departments are, and will be, working independently in the same area in one part of Nigeria.

The situation is accentuated by the fact that the Survey Department of the Northern Provinces is in process of formation. During the next twelve months the following pressing special work has to be done :-

(i) The general regulations, technical and administrative, of the department have to be issued.

(ii) The detailed organisation of the Kano Revenue Survey has to be drawn up and the survey started, both framework and detail.

(iii) The Kano School has to be placed in a satisfactory state of organi- sation.

(iv) A large staff of inexperienced civilian surveyors has to be trained in the department.

(v.) The Record Office has to be thoroughly organised,

(vi.) The small scale maps of the Northern Provinces have to be compiled. 37. The above special work is in addition to the current administrative work of the department, and to the very large number of miscellaneous cadastral surveys required by the Government as detailed in paragraph 3. The Director of Surveys has no one of sufficient survey and administrative experience to assist him, except perhaps one surveyor, whose experience of survey administration is necessarily limited by his short service, but who should eventually become thoroughly efficient.

One of the above officers is practically always on leave, and it is more than probable that neither might be available, owing to sickness.

Of the remainder of the staff, none are at present capable of taking charge of even a section without supervision, and the situation is rendered graver by the fact that 12 partly-trained surveyors, inexperienced in local conditions, are being added to the staff.

33. I submit that the most efficient remedy is to combine the two Survey Departments into one department, divided into branches, all working under the tion of the general supervision of one head, who would preserve co-ordination and undertake

from his office all special work.

two depart- ments.

Suggested organisa.

tion. Aims.

General

advan- tages.

Special a vantages.

Southern branches

not affected.

Temporary Appoint- ment of Assistant

Surveyor

General.

39. Suggestions for the general division of duties among the branches are given in Appendix II.

The suggested organisation aims at centralisation of general control in connection with principles, and decentralisation of control in details to tacet local conditions and survey requirements of local Administrations.

40. The general advantages claimed are:—

41.

(i) Homogeneity of methods of work.

(ii) Co-ordination of surveys and results.

(iii) Heads of branches freed to a great extent from administrative and special work conducted by the head office.

(iv.) Convenience of reliefs.

(v.) General efficiency promoted by inspections of Surveyor-General to ensure economical and co-ordinated working.

The special advantages claimed are that the Surveyor-General's Office can undertake the majority of the special work urgently required, viz., all the items given in paragraph 36, except (iv.) and (v.).

This will leave the Director of the northern branch free to carry on adminis tration and routine survey work, the training of the new staff, the organisation of his Record Office, and the issue of his branch regulations founded on the general regulations detailed in paragraph 21.

42. The southern cadastral branch, topographical branch, and special mines section will not suffer from the extension of the Surveyor-General's duties as all are in the hands of capable officers in Mr. Cleminson, Captain Rowe, and Captain Giles, respectively. Their decentralisation in work with the local Secretariat and Treasury can be easily effected.

43. I submit the advisability of appointing temporarily an Assistant Surveyor-General and one non-commissioned officer draftsman for the period during which the staff of the Northern Provinces branch is becoming trained and experi- enced, the revenue sections and school are being developed, and pressure of mine surveys and map compilation exists.

49

The duties of the Assistant Surveyor-General would be:→

(i.) To relieve the Surveyor-General when on leave, and thus maintain continuity during the period of development.

(ii) To assist in organising and starting the revenue section and train- ing the European revenue surveyors.

(iii) To supervise annually the mines survey section until the comple- tion of the special mines work, and of the training of a civilian to take the place of the military officer in command.

(iv.) To undertake the compilation of the small-scale maps of Nigeria. (v.) To take charge of the northern cadastral branch during the absence of the Director until a civilian is sufficiently experienced.

Duties.

44. In making proposals on general principles, I am aware that it is inadvis Staff and able to mention the name of any particular officers for appointments.

cost of

Assistant

The appointment of Assistant Surveyor-General is, however, of a temporary Surveyor and special nature, and for the sake of economy I recommend that it should be filled General. by Captain F. L. Giles, Royal Engineers.

If the officer is appointed, it will not be necessary to replace him in the mines section as his experience will enable him to exercise sufficient general supervision to ensure efficiency.

Nor will it be necessary to re-employ five non-commissioned officers of No. 1 party. Four will be sufficient, as suggested in paragraph 34, most of the duties of the fifth man in regard to mup compilation being removed to the Assistant Surveyor- General's office.

The cost of re-employment of Captain Giles and one non-commissioned officer as above mentioned in the mines section would be £576 and £1,370 in 1914 and 1915, respectively.

In addition, if an Assistant Surveyor-General is appointed, the special expenditure of £790 and £1,484 in 1914 and 1915, respectively, on an officer and draftsman, who would be required to undertake the compilation of the map of Nigeria, would not be necessary.

The cost of an Assistant Surveyor-General (Captain, Royal Engineers, at £667) and draftsman would be £733 and £1,416 in 1914 and 1915, respectively.

Summary showing economy effected by proposed appointments :-

Re-employment of Captain Giles and one non-commis-

sioned officer, mines section

1914.

£

1915.

£

576

1,370

Special employment, map compilation party

790

1,484

Total

1,366

2,854

Assistant Surveyor-General and Staff ...

733

1,416

Net saving

£633

£1,438

45. It may be asked why the present officer commanding the Mines Section should, if employed under another title, be able to undertake so many fresh duties. The reason is that, in his present appointment, that officer has no authority or position that would enable him to carry out the majority of the duties proposed for the Assistant Surveyor-General. Nor, I submit, would such an arrangement be in accordance with general principles of organisation.

46. The only direct increase in survey expenditure involved by the suggested Increase of organisation of the Nigeria survey is the above-given cost of the Assistant Surveyor- expendi General and draftsman.

volved by

ture in-

I submit that the heads of the three branches should be placed on salaries more new or in accordance with the responsibilities they are called on to undertake, and I recom- ganisation.

This will involve Heads of mend that these salaries should be £600-£25-£800 per annum. very little increase to the provision already made for the officers in charge of the cadastral northern and southern cadastral branches, as both are on their maximum of £600, the former after two, the latter after 13 years' service.

branches.

The topographical branch is at present under the charge of a lieutenant of Head of artillery, an officer of altogether exceptional ability both in technical and adminis- topo trative work, and one whose services. I have no hesitation in saying, the Government branch.

graphical

Q

39547