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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

سسسسسا

Reference :-

C.O. 882

6

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

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Although this is in the nature of salary, it is not personal to the officer, and com- pensation should not, therefore, be drawn in respect of it. I consider the best of

way dealing with this case will be to increase the allowance to $480 per annum, without exchange compensation.

The Medical Superintendent, Lunatic Asylum, was granted an allowance of $480 as Police Surgeon, and permitted to draw exchange compensation on it. In fixing the rate of allowance it was specially considered that it would carry exchange com- pensation.

For the same reasons as in the last case I consider that the best course is to raise the allowance to $600 per annum, without exchange compensation.

The Sergeant Major, Singapore Volunteer Corps, draws $1,200 from an Open Vote and exchange compensation thereon. This is in the nature of salary, and should, I think, carry exchange compensation. He also draws $600 as Drill In- structor, Singapore Volunteer Rifles, but this, as an allowance, properly carries no exchange compensation.

The Harbour Master, Penang, draws $300 per annum as Passenger Ship and Shipwright Surveyor. This forms part of the salary of the present holder, and he has been allowed to draw it when on leave. In the estimates for next year it will be added to the salary of the appointment.

As regards the Colonial Surgeon, Penang, Dr. Mugliston, who draws exchange compensation on his allowance for his duties under the Petroleum Ordinance, I have addressed you in my despatch, No. 427, of 28th_ultimo.* Pending your further instructions, I laid it down that salary, and personal allowance would alone carry double compensation, and, assuming that this is correct, any compensation drawn since the 1st January last on allowances other than salary ought to be refunded. In cases where doubt may arise as to whether an allowance can properly be con- sidered as salary or not, I think the proper test is whether the officer in receipt of the allowance would draw any portion of it when on leave; if not, I should say the allowance cannot be regarded as salary, and should not carry compensation.

I have, &c.,

40901

No. 43.

STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.

F. A. SWETTENHAM.

MR. CHAMBERLAIN to GOVERNOR SIR F. A. SWETTENHAM. (No. 373.) SIR,

Downing Street, December 5, 1901.

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 454, of the 23rd October,† submitting the claim of Mr. R. B. Leicester, Assistant Treasurer, Penang, and Mr. J. E. Cooper, Financial Assistant, Police Force, Penang, to receive the local addition of 25 per cent. to their salaries which has been granted to non- clerical officers with salaries of over $1,200 a year, who are not entitled to receive exchange compensation.

2. I observe that the Committee of the Legislative Council, appointed to enquire into the salaries of the Civil Service, place these appointments in Appendix B B to their report, thereby excluding them from the Clerical Service proper, their recom- mendations in regard to which are contained in Appendix C C. It seems to me, moreover, that the fact that these appointments are regarded as prizes for the Clerical Service is hardly, in itself, sufficient to bring them within that service.

3. If, therefore, Messrs. Leicester and Cooper have been promoted to non- clerical posts, I do not think that they can properly be treated as still belonging to the Clerical Service. I am not sure, moreover, how far I should be justified in taking into consideration the circumstances in regard to Mr. Cooper's appointment to which you refer in the last paragraph of your despatch, as it might be argued that the fact that he was not the best qualified man for the appointment should not be allowed to prejudice his claim, since, in spite of that fact, he did receive and still holds the appointment.

4. I am of opinion, therefore, that these officers should receive the 25 per cent.

↑ No. 39.

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increase, to which the name of "local pay" has been given, instead of the increase recommended by the Committee.

5. When these posts become vacant, owing to the promotion or retirement of Messrs. Leicester and Cooper, the salaries should be fixed in sterling.

I have, &c.,

41681

(No. 426.)

No. 44. HONG KONG.

J. CHAMBERLAIN.

MR. CHAMBERLAIN to GOVERNOR SIR H. A. BLAKE.

Downing Street, December 19, 1901.

SIR,

I HAD the honour to inform you in my telegram of the 12th instant,* that I was prepared to agree to officers of the Hong Kong Government Service who are entitled to receive the exchange compensation allowance being granted, from 1st January, 1902, the same concession as has been given to officers of the Straits Settlements and the Federated Malay States Services, viz,, the extension of this privilege to the whole of their salaries (including Personal Allowances but not including house or any other allowances).

2. The grant of this concession is, however, dependent upon the assent of the Legislative Council; and I have asked you to warn the Council that additional revenue may be required in this connection.

3. It is my desire that the same principles may, as far as possible, be adopted in regard to the increased allowances to existing officers, and the preparation of a sterling scheme for future appointments, as have been laid down in the case of the Straits Settlements. I understand that you have already been placed by the Governor of the Straits Settlements in possession of certain of the despatches which I have addressed to him from time to time upon this subject; and I have now requested him to forward to you copies of such other despatches as may be of assistance in showing clearly the lines which have been followed in the case of that Colony.

4. When you have considered these papers I shall hope to receive in due course the scheme for placing future appointments on a sterling basis, for which I have already asked in my despatch of the 15th August last.f

5. I have to add that the despatches which have passed between us on this subject need no longer be regarded as confidential. This, of course, does not include any confidential correspondence with the Governor of the Straits Settlements, of which you may have received copies from myself or from Sir F. Swettenham.

41550

SIR,

No. 45.

I have, &c.,

J. CHAMBERLAIN.

STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.

MR. CHAMBERLAIN to GOVERNOR SIR F. A. SWETTENHAM. (No. 3.)

Downing Street, January 1, 1902.

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 462, of the 29th October last, on the subject of the payment of exchange compensation on allowances other than personal.

2. The case of Nurses has been dealt with in the eleventh paragraph of my despatch, No. 341, of 1st November,§ where I have suggested that the ration allowance should be merged in salary. The same arrangement should be made in the case of the Matron of the Lunatic Asylum.

3. The Entertainment Allowance of the Resident Councillor of Penang should cease to carry exchange compensation as from 1st January, 1901, in accordance with the rule laid down in the second paragraph of the same despatch.§

4. With regard to the allowance drawn by Dr. Mugliston for testing oils, I have to refer you to my despatch, No. 342, of the 1st November ||

11680: not printed.

Pica

† No. 32. ‡ No. 42.

§ No. 37.

| Not printed,

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