CO129-300 - Administrator Major Gen Gascoigne Governor Sir Blake - 1900 [7-9] — Page 342

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This course is better than the only alterna-

tive of sending an officer from Hong-Kong to act for the ab-

sent Postmaster, for the Senior Clerk would know the local con-

ditions and the intricacies of the various currencies at Shang-

hai which make Money Order work there complicated.

I am further of opinion that the salary of the

Postmaster at Shanghai combined with the privilege of free

quarters compares favourably with the salaries of officers in

1

more responsible positions in Hong-Kong, and I see no necessity

for increasing it to more than $3,000 per annum which seems

to me ample.

On the other hand the additional $600 per annum

which you are prepared to sanction will, if added to the salary

of the Senior Clerk, probably attract a competent officer to

the post and I have accordingly to recommend that the sum be

devoted to that purpose.

I shall report in due course what success has

attended the endeavour to obtain a suitable Senior Clerk,

10. I take this opportunity of reporting that

to meet the increased requirements of the delivery of letters

at Shanghai owing to the growth of the Settlement, the Post-

master there has been authorised to engage 4 additional post- men at $96 per annum each, there being funds available for the

purpose for the current year.

I have the honour to be,

sir,

Your most obedient

Humble Servant,

GOVERNOR,&C.