CO885-5 — Page 182

Miscellaneous

No. 65.

PUBLIC RECORD

OFFICE

C.O.

Reference :-

8855 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

Printed for the Use of the Colonial Office.

MEMORANDUM ON THE COLONIAL OFFICE ESTABLISHMENT.

1. THE number, salaries, grades, classes, &c. of the Colonial Office Staff, from highest to lowest, are fully and clearly set forth in the annual Parliamentary Estimates. No change has taken place since 1881-2, except as regards the number, hours of attendance, and consequent rate of pay, of the Lower Division Clerks. A copy of the Estimates for 1886-7 is appended. The remaining information asked for in paragraphs 1 to 15 of the Circular of the Royal Commission is contained in this Memorandum, which, saving a few additions, was prepared before the Circular was received. A comparative table is annexed, illustrating the changes described in the Memorandum.

2. The amounts of the Colonial Office Estimates General ob-

for the years ending 31st March 1867, 1871, 1876, servations. 1881, and 1887, ie., for the concluding years of the last five quinquennial periods, were respectively 32,124, 31,2491., 34,755l., 38,7921., and 41,0167. Before commenting in detail upon the office arrange- ments, it may be convenient to say a few words in general explanation of the increased expenditure in 1886-7 compared with 1866-7. In the years 1866, 1871, 1876, 1881 and 1886, the number of despatches] and letters received was respectively 12,303 12,776, 15,439, 22,683, 23,500 (estimated). A correspond- ing advance has taken place in the number of despatches and letters sont out of the office which in the years 1871, 1875, 1881, 1886, was respec- tively 11,068, 12,888, 19,895, and 20,738 (estimated). In so far, therefore, as the amount of correspon- dence is a test of the amount of business the work has doubled during the last 20 or even 15

years, which last period has witnessed the extension of British territory or influence in the Pacific, the Mediterra- nean, Australasia, Africa, and the Malay Peninsula. The business of the Colonial Office is unavoidably of an exceptionally varied character, embracing as it necessarily does in respect of some half-hundred communities, all the questions that can arise in any community. Delicate and difficult questions are constantly presented for consideration, and show a tendency to increase in number and variety as time goes on. The concession of self-government to many of the great Colonies has relieved the Colonial Office of one class of business only to be succeeded by another of a still more auxious character, par- ticularly as regards Foreign relations and inter- national arrangements, whilst the appointment of Colonial Representatives in London, and the increas- ing resort to the office of persons connected with Colonies, has had the effect of consuming the time of the staff in personal interviews to a much greater degree than was formerly the case. In these circum- stances it has been found necessary to add somewhat to the staff of the office, from time to time, to meet the accession of business. Telegrams which figured for only 100%. in 1866-67, figure for 4,000l. in 1886-7.

A

E 24489. 100.-13/86. G. 18. Wt. 16294. E & B.

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