CO885-8 — Page 219

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 885

8M

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advocated at the present time. One of the principal obstacles to the increase of establishment, namely, the want of accommodation, will shortly be removed when, at the end of the year, the Crown Agents for the Colonies vacate the offices which they Occupy at present, and it will probably be possible, in the general rearrangement of the accommoda. tion of the Office which will follow, to provide a margin of space for additions to the different Departments if they should hereafter appear to be necessary. But with the exception of some increase in the strength of the Second Division and sub- ordinate Departments, which will be dealt with separately, it does not appear that the present time is opportune for the consideration of any general increase of establishment. It is possible that the cessation of the war and the settlement of the new Colonies in South Africa, and especially the introduction of self-government, may lead to a cessation of the recent rapid growth of the business of the Office, or perhaps to some actual decrease; on the other hand, should the African Protectorates at present administered by the Foreign Office be transferred to the Colonial Office, there would be again a great addition to the work. It would seem, therefore, to be expedient to defer for the present the question of addition to the staff of the Higher Division. There is, however, one matter in con- nection with this branch of the subject to which reference may usefully be made. The establish- ment of the Upper Division is at present framed on the supposition that two clerks will be tempor arily employed in the Colonies, their places being taken, while so employed, by members of the Colonial Civil Service temporarily attached to this Office for that purpose. The advantage of this system, Both to this Office, in securing that many of its members shall have the opportunity of acquiring experience in the Colonies, and to the Colonial service itself, which cannot but profit by the employment in this Office of some of the most biking of fra officials, cannot be questioned, but efbot of subeuteung for men of proved frleride in this Office,

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Office is necessary, no case has been made out for either any change in its organisation, except such minor changes as are a mere matter of internal arrangement, or for any present increase of the Upper Division.

M.F.O.

March 13th, 1903.

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