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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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(LORD AMPTHILL.)

With regard to the points which Mr. Chamberlain alludes to as suggesting improvements and on which he desires further advice-

(1.) I understand that the principle of seconding men from the Home Civil Service has been raised already and has the approval of the Treasury. A case in point has occurred on the Gold Coast.

(2.) We have tried it without success. gentlemen of Indian parentage offered themselves but to others.

13th November.

(LORD SELBORNE.)

SIR R. HERBERT,

Τπο

A.

Will you read over the cnclosed paper "Miscel laneous No. 123," and these further minutes? then please pass on to Mr. Chamberlain with your observations. I am quite willing to act in the capacity suggested by Mr. Chamberlain, though I think you would be a much better man for the post. Will you make suggestions for the composition of the Committee? It should not be large, and it should, if possible, include experts on patronage und pensions, eg, Lord Ampthill and Mr. Mercer. Of the heads of departments, I take it at this moment Mr. Anderson is under less pressure of work than the others.

16th November.

(SIR ROBERT HERBERT.)

S.

I have read the minutes, and will state as briefly

⚫ as I can my general views.

The practical difficulties in the way of a General Consolidated Colonial Civil Service, the members of which would be freely transferable from any one Colony to another, seem to me insurmountable. The distances, the differences of climates, race, language and administrative conditions, obstacles; so is the necessity of employing in the lower grades the creoles of the country.

are

But thereare not the same obstacles-though there are others in the way of consolidating into one "Staff" Service the Colonial Secretaries and a few of the other high staff officers who are ordinarily appointed to the Crown Colonies from outside. If certain provisions can be made, these officers might be appointed to this branch of the service on the understanding that they will be eligible for, and liable to be required to undertake, any transfer that the Secretary of State may in any case think desirable.

1. There should be official residences of a modest character provided for the officers in this Staff

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service with necessary furniture, so that a man ordered to a new Colony may not incur the expense of breaking up his home and forming a new one.

2. There should be a fund, under the control of

the Secretary of State, to pay the passages and other necessary incidental costs of transfers.

3. There should be a general scheme to provide the Staff service with:-

(a) Pensions;

(6) Allowances during non-employment or on

compulsory early retirement;

(e) Annuities and gratuities to widows and orphans. (Governors should be admis- sible to-(or ? required to participate in) (b) and (c)).

The contributions of the Staff officers to these funds should be by way of a small percentage on their salaries, and a liberal subsidy should be given from Colonial Funds.

There may be much difficulty in settling with the Colonies (if we discuss the details with them) what should be their respective contributions to the Common Staff Service Fund. If a simple rule can be laid down-such as that each Crown Colony shall contribute (say) 1% of its revenue to the Fund-endless discussion will be avoided. The Crown Colonies appear, from the table opposite page 32 of the Colonial Office List for 1899, to have aggregate Revenues amounting to about } £7,400,000 a year, and so 1% would produce about £74,000 a year. Possibly, therefore, 1% or 3% on the Revenue would suffice, or even less.

I am disposed to think that West Africa should' be run on different lines, entirely apart from the General Staff Service.

Mr. Chamberlain proposes to increase the salaries of Governors and certain high officers, where the Revenue admits of it, and where it seems right to do so; and this will indirectly be a great help to the general scheme.

I think the small committee suggested by Lord Selborne would do very well, and he is certainly the man for its Chairman.

20th January [1900].

R. G. W. H.

(MR. CHAMBERLAIN.)

LORD SELBORNE,

I think the Committee may now be appointed. Will you consider the desirability of adding some ex-governor of experience ?

21st January.

J. C.

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(LORD SELBORNE.)

MR. CHAMBERLAIN,

I would suggest Sir H. Norman or Sir C. Clementi Smith or both. As regards a "Pensions" expert, I understand that Mr. Johnson is an authority of not less weight than Mr. Mercer.

S.

23rd January.

(MR. CHAMBERLAIN.)

I would ask Sir C. Smith.

24th January.

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