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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

HEPPIC.O.885

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

clerk, on the saine basis as at present, but giving a regular daily attendance during office hours. His main function would still be editing, and he would probably still generally sit upstairs, but, besides seeing and minuting all letters which could not be answerel merely by sending printed information, he would be required to exercise a supervision over the minor details of the Office, such as the stamp receipts, which are now done by the chief clerk. For this he would naturally require an increased salary. He would have to be assisted by a competent clerk, who would receive a less salary than the present chief clerk,

The combifred salaries of the editor and chief clerk now amounting to £650, the editor should, I think, in this case, receive a salary of £450 (which sum was contemplated by Mr. Lucas in 1896 as his eventual salary) rising by £10 to £500, or possibly more, and the clerk should receive £150, or perhaps less at first. rising by annual increments of £10 to £200. It is of importance to give increments, otherwise an energetic and competent clerk, finding no prospect of improvement, is tempted to leave to better himself. The clerk cannot be a person quite without experience, as he will have to carry on the routine work of the Office in the absence of the editor on holidays, or from other causes, and if it is found impossible to get a clerk of the calibre required for this money, it will be desirable to spend more. There is a large margin on the vote at present.

If the Committee determines to adhere to the policy laid down in 1896, and adopt the proposals now made, it may be desirable as a transitional measure to keep on the present chief clerk for a short period in order that he may teach the new clerk his duties, and I would ask, in any case, that the Committee should allow a certain latitude, if necessary, as to the exact date on which the new arrangements should come into force.

Circumstances have, however, somewhat changed in the last three years, and I venture to express considerable doubt whether the above proposals, which 1 subunit as carrying out the Committee's views in 1896, would at present really be satis- factory, for the following reasons: The work of editing the pamphlets is work which is in its nature entirely independent of the clerical work of the Office, and is not easily combined with it, for the editing involves a quantity of reading and writing which is better done upstairs without interruptions, whereas the clerical work is necessarily done below, and involves supervision of boy writers, attending to the counter, dispatching letters, &c., with the innumer- able petty interruptions which are inseparable from such work. It is, therefore, doubtful whether the editor could really combine much detailed super- vision with his editorial work, while a general supervision is already given by the Colonial Office member of the Committee. Further, it must be remembered that, since the Committee of 1896 made its report, both branches of the work have grown. The editor is now responsible for all editing instead of merely for the handbooks and circulars of the big colonies as he used to be, and the efforts made during

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the last three years to increase the sphere of useful. ness of the Office have necessarily resulted in a considerable increase of clerical work beyond what was done in 1896.

I recommend, therefore, that the present system should be continued in principle, although certain alterations in detail should be made. The present chief clerk, as already pointed out, is liable to retire at the end of this year. I would, however, ask leave to retain his services for another year, during which his successor can be found and trained. His successor should start at a considerably lower salary than that now drawn by the chief clerk, but rising by an incremental scale to, say, £250 or even £300.

I would also propose that the editor, whose work is mainly literary, and under this arrangement (which I believe he would prefer to being appointed head of the Office) would remain so, should, subject to the discretion of the Chairman, be allowed some- what more latitude as to hours, e.g., as to constant attendance on Saturday mornings. This would of course in no way at all relieve him from the liability to produce his work at the required times. I also recommend that whenever the new arrange- ments come into force he should, having served the Committee for over 12 years, receive some increase of salary. I do not, however, pending the Committee's decision as to the general question of organization, submit detailed proposals for the salaries of the staff.

November, 1899.

H. L.

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