CO129-265 - Public Offices & Others - 1894 — Page 360

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price of amost overy commodity in daily use, due to

the low value of silver, which has to be paid in ex-

change for these commodities.

This is entailing on all classes of the

foreign community here an expenditure of from 30 to 50 per cent beyond that of some 2 years ago, and this to

those whose pay is, like that of these clerks, fixed

at a certain number of dollars with, in their case, no

periodical increase for service even, represents a

loss of income which cannot be other than most severely

felt, while on the other hand it cannot be ignored

that the public, in this instance, greatly benefits

from the same cause that has had so unfortunate effect

on these subordinates' pay.

Reference has been made to the firms named

in one of the enclosures, and the statements therein

made in respect of these are confirmed; other firms

have likewise recognised the fairness of recouring

their employes for loss of salary entailed by the low

rate of exchange, and it may be assumed that a general

temporary rise in the market rate of wages for clerical

assistance has taken place in the colony.

After careful investigation I am of opinion

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