CO885-(7-8) — Page 84

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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1LLC.O.885

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(MR. ANTROBUS.)

Upon the question of creating a Colonial Civil Service there is not much left to be said. The Indian Civil Service is practically five services, and it seems to me that we should have to have at least three services (1) West Indian, (?) Eastern, and (3) West African. It would not be possible to combine or ally a Colonial with an Indian Civil Service. I doubt whether it would be expedient to attempt to establish a West Indian Service, which would mean that certain of the higher appointments in each Colony would be closed against the inhabitants of that Colony. In Malta and Mauritius even "the Chief Judicial and Fiscal Offices" (see Colonial Regulation, No. 75) are now held by local men. Mr. Lucas will say how the matter stands with regard to the three Eastern Colonies. In Africa I hope that it may be possible eventually to have a West African or an East and West African Service, but at present it would not do to lay down any rules which would prevent us from employing the best men that we can get from any source. The difficulty is to find enough competent men willing to go there. Many a man would, however, go tem- porarily to West Africa who wouldn't think of

going permanently, and I should be glad to see I agree.-E, W. some arrangement made under which men in the J. C.

Home Civil Service (especially customs and police officers) would be lent to the African Colonies, as military officers are, for three or five years, with the right to return to their positions at home.

The main object, however, which Lord Selborne had in fiew when he wrote his memorandum was, I understand, to devise some means of securing a better class of Governor. He says that "speaking generally, the subordinate staff of the various colonies is efficient, and does its work well," but that the same cannot be said of the Governors.

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Under any system that is to say, whether a general Colonial Service is created, or each Colony continues to have its own service distinct from that of every other Colony-it will depend upon the Colonial Office whether the best men are selected for Governorship and other high appointments, and I have long thought that, in order to secure the selection of the best men, some alteration is required in our arrangements as to “ patronage.' Lord AmpthiH has effected some very great im- provements in the methods of collecting and recording information as to the qualifications and claims of Colonial officers, which will go far to enable the Secretary of State to select the best men. But the Private Secretary, who is practically the head of the Patronage Department," usually changes with the Secretary of State, and in the last few years the Assistant Private Secretary taken from the office has changed even more frequently. There is, therefore, no continuity in the work. The amount of the work has also increased so much that it has become necessary either to divide the work or to strengthen the Private Secretary's Department. There is a broad distinction between

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"first appointments and "

promotion," and I believe that Lord Ampthill agrees with me in thinking that, while the Private Secretary should continue to deal with first appointments, the work connected with promotions and transfers should be dealt with in a permanent department. My own view, ever since I was myself Private Secretary, has been that the General Department should be strengthened to enable it to undertake this branch of the patronage work.

January 31.

R. L. A.

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