CO885-5 — Page 187

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 885

5 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

10

now

service there were two messengers or porters at 120%. each, and two at 100. each, making alto- gether nine messengers for outdoor and indoor service. There were also an extra messenger at 258. a week, equal to 651. per annum, and a coal porter at 52/. per annum, both paid from contin- gencies. There are at present 11 messengers for outdoor and indoor service, who are arranged in classes as follows:-For outdoor service five mes- sengers of the first class at 1257. to 150l., for indoor service, two messengers of the second class at 1207., and four messengers of the third class at 80l. to 100% each. These messengers are entitled to pension. There remain the extra inessenger at 651., and the coal porter at 521., whose wages were formerly paid from contingencies, but are voted under salaries; a doorkeeper* at 557.; and a labourer to attend to lighting, lamps, and odd jobs at 681. The last four men are not entitled to pension. There are also two boy messengers* at from 18. to 28. 9d. per diem, amounting for 1886-7 to 517. One outdoor messenger and one indoor man receive an allowance of 58. per Sunday for attendance on that day. It will be observed that the staff of messengers, &c. has been increased by two messengers for indoor service, one doorkeeper, and one odd man. This has been rendered necessary by the extent and arrangements of the new buildings into which the Colonial Office moved in the winter of 1875-6. On the other hand it will be observed that the scale of pay has been reduced. With regard to the addition to the first office keeper's allowance, it should be noted that his duties and responsi- bilities have been much increased by the removal into the present buildings, and by night work, owing to the arrival of telegrams and attendance on resident clerks.

" Female

11. The 260.; at present voted under "salaries for wages and maintenance of female resident servants and servants, was formerly included in the lump vote for charwomen. housekeeping expenses. The vote of 2191. for six charwomen, at 148. a week each has arisen from the removal into the present buildings in 1875-6.

12. It has been already stated that the vote for Telegrams. telegrams which was only 1001. in 1866-7 has grown to 4,000, in 1886-7.

13. The vote for housekeeping expenses, &c. Incidental was 9001. in 1866-7, and only 150l. in 1886-7. cxpenses, The decrease is owing partly to the transfer of house several items to the vote for "Salaries," and partly keeping.

to miscellaneous requirements which were formerly

met out of the vote for contingencies being now met

by requisition on the Office of Works, Stationery Office, &c.

14. In 1866-7 the vote for messengers' bills was Messengers' 2001. This was an insufficient estimate. It was bills. raised in the following year to 3501, at which amount it has remained ever since. These bills represent the travelling expenses and allowances of the outdoor messengers when absent from London on duty, and their charges for conveyance according to regulation within London itself.

* Supplied by the Civil Service Commissioners.

11

Class I.

15. Class I. clerkships in the Colonial Office are Mode of filled after open competition at examinations held appointment. by the Civil Service Commissioners for Class I. Examination, clerkships in the public service. The examination limits of nge, comprises a wide list of subjects, including ad- vanced English, ancient and modern languages, mathematics, natural sciences, moral sciences, jurisprudence, and political economy, from which candidates select the subjects in which they wish

to be examined. The list of subjects is contained in the Regulations of the Civil Service Com- missioners for the examination of candidates for vacancies in Class I. of the Public Service. Can- didates must be between 18 and 24

years of unless they already belong either to the Civil age. Service, in which case they may compete up to 29 years of age, or to the combatant services, in which case they may practically compete up to any age. Under Class I. the Civil Service Commissioners include both Playfair "Higher Division" clerkships at 1001, rising by triennial increments of 301. to 4001., with duty pay in special cases not exceeding 2001. per annum and clerkships paid at a higher rate. It has happened when both kinds of vacancies have been examined for together that there has been a strong competition for the highest paid clerkships on the part of University Candidates, who, if unsuccessful, have withdrawn altogether, practically leaving the "Higher Division clerk- ships to be awarded on a lower standard. There are no "Higher Division" clerkships in the Colonial Office, but the Bookkeeper, the two Emigration Clerks, and the five officers mentioned in para- graph 6e of this memorandum may, perhaps, be considered as falling under that category. Lower Lower Division clerkships throughout the public service Division. are filled up after open competition at examinations held by the Civil Service Commissioners in the elementary branches of an English education. The list of subjects is contained in the Order in Council of 12th February 1876, creating the Lower Division of the Civil Service. Candidates must be between 15 and 17 years of age for boy clerkships, and be- tween 17 and 20 years of age for men clerkships. Lower Division clerks may after ten years' service be promoted on special grounds to the Higher Division, under the 12th clause of the Order in Council, and they may compete up to 29 years of age

for any vacancy in Class I. Writerships are filled up Writers. from writers on the registered list kept by the Civil Service Commissioners. Candidates are placed on that list after a competitive examination in handwriting, spelling, copying, and arithmetic. For boy writer- ships they must be between 14 and 18, and for men writerships they must be over 18 years of age. Boy writers are superannuated at 19 years of age. Third-class messengers are appointed by the Messengers. Secretary of State, and must be between 21 and· 35 years of age, or if they be Army or Navy pensioners between 21 and 45 years of age. They must pass a test examination in reading, writing from dictation, and the first four rules of arithmetic.

16. Messengers are allowed three weeks' holiday Holidays. in the year. The holidays of Civil Service writers

B 2