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of the 16th April*), and I have suggested that this provision should be further examined in consultation with the Public Service Commission prior to the next general election. I understand that a similar regulation is already in force, and is applicable to the election now about to be held.

I have, &c.,

PASSFIELD.

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(v) Regulations have been discussed with all Heads of Departments, and I have found it necessary to make a few minor amendments in regulations other than 178-183 in order to avoid disturbing existing practice and creating unnecessary complications. There is no time to submit these amendments for your approval.

(vi) I hope I may receive very early reply, as I wish to publish Manual of Procedure in full before the end of June.

C. 83230/9/81 [No. 4].

No. 159.

P

C. 83230/9/31 [No. 6].

No. 161.

THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 4.48 p.m., 28th May, 1931.) TELEGRAM.

28TH MAT. No. 120. Confidential. Your telegram of 20th May, No. 100, Confidential.† Manual of Procedure, paragraph 178-183 of Public Service Regula- tions, reproduce existing General Order No. 166 with slight verbal amendment(s). I venture to deprecate any alteration to the existing Rule(s) at present juncture. If you consider present procedure undesirable, which I am aware differs considerably from that obtaining in England and other parts of the Empire, amendments could be made later after due consideration.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNOR

(Sent 7.30 p.m., 23rd June, 1931.)

TELEGRAM.

No. 124. CONFIDENTIAL. Your telegram of 18th June, No. 137.* In the circumstances I approve of issue of Manual of Procedure, but I request that regula- tions regarding Public Service may receive consideration by the Public Service Com- mission as soon as conveniently possible after establishment and that revised draft may be submitted to me with their recommendations.-PASSFIELD.

C. 83230/9/31 [No. 5].

No. 160.

THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 6.45 p.m., 18th June, 1931.)

TELEGRAM.

[Answered by No. 161.]

No. 137. CONFIDENTIAL. Your Confidential despatch of 28th May, 1931, Manual of Procedure: (i) Public Service Regulations must be promulgated before State Council meets on 7th July in order to enable Public Service Commission to function and to acquaint both service and State Council with change in procedure as regards appointments and discipline. Earliest possible promulgation desirable in order that Heads of Departments and Secretaries to Ministers may be fully conversant with new procedure, before State Council meets.

(i) Paragraphs 178-183 are not based on Act of 1927, but, as indicated in my telegram of 28th May, No. 120,§ reproduce provisions of General Orders No. 166 and amendments embodied in correction slips thereto. These again were not based on Act of 1927, but were compiled at various times to meet local conditions.

(iii) In preparing for the new Constitution my predecessors have endeavoured to avoid all alterations in existing procedure which are not necessary consequent of constitutional change. In pursuance of this procedure, which appears to be sound, I would deprecate advantage being taken of issue of Public Service Regulations to alter existing rule regarding Association of Public Servants. Such alteration seems practically undesirable in view of the fact that the question will probably come under review when the State Council is considering the Trade Union and Trade Disputes Bills (vide correspondence ending with your Confidential despatch of 7th March, 1931). In any case it will be quite impossible to draft the new regulation within the next few days.

(iv) In view of foregoing considerations I hope you will authorize promulgation of regulations 178-183 as drafted, leaving subsequent amendment(s) to be considered by the Public Services Commission after the State Council has dealt with the Bills referred to in preceding paragraph.

* C. 83230/1/31 [No. 5].

+ No. 157.

‡ No. 158.

No. 159.

|| C. 80197/31 [No. 2]: not printed.

C. 83230/9/31 [No. 9].

No. 162.

THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

(Received 10th August, 1931.)

(Confidential.)

MY LORD,

I HAVE the honour to refer to your Confidential telegram No. 124 of the 23rd June, 1931,† on the subject of the issue of the Manual of Procedure.

Queen's House, Colombo, 22nd July, 1931.

2. By your Confidential despatch of the 28th May, 1931, further information was requested on the subject of draft Regulations 178-183, and Regulation 173 was also mentioned as requiring further consideration. By my Confidential telegram No. 137 of the 18th June, 1931,* I pointed out that Regulations 178-183 reproduce the provisions of General Order 166 and amendments to that General Order embodied in correction slips. By your Confidential telegram No. 124 of the 23rd June, 1931, the issue of the Manual of Procedure was approved, but you requested that the Regula- tions regarding the Public Services might receive consideration by the Public Services Commission and that a revised draft might be submitted with the Commission's recommendation.

3. I assume that your telegram of 23rd June refers only to Regulations 178-183, and that you do not desire that the Public Service Commission should undertake im- mediately a complete revision of the whole Regulations. I should be glad if I could be favoured with a more precise indication of the direction in which you consider it desirable that Regulations 178-183 should be amended.

I have, &c.,

GRAEME THOMSON,

Governor.

* No. 160.

No. 161.

No. 158.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O.882/11

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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