CO129-269 - Governor Sir Robinson & Public Offices - 1895 [12] — Page 358

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objections would have to be weighed against the cor-

responding advantages to the public service by a

very cheap Post Office Agency under official guaran-

tee at small ports where a separate establishment

would entail a heavy expense on the Post Office

Department.

Mr Robertson, Her Majesty's Consul at Canton,

stated that the appointment of Post Office Agent

there was held by Mr Frater, Consular Assistant and

that the duties of the Agency were simply to despatch

and receive the daily mails, and that they did not

conflict in any way with the efficient discharge of

the Consular duties more properly belonging to the

Officer engaged.

The Acting Vice Consul at Chefoo made it a

complaint that the duties of a Post Office Agency were

imposed upon a Junior Officer without any recompense;

and the Consul at Amoy suggested that no Post Office

Agency should be offered to a Junior Officer except

at the recommendation of the Consul and with his

approval.

On the 5th June 1868 Sir R. Alcock addressed

a