CO129-301 - Governor Sir Blake - 1900 [9-12] — Page 106

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to decide whether the salaries' at present paid are below

the current rate, and we car but express the hope that our

suggestions may prove of service to the Government in ar-

riving at... such an adjustment as may satisfy all parties

congerted.

10.

:

While recommending increase d

salaries it appears to us at the same time that office

hours of 10 a.m. to 4.p.m, including absence for lunch, are

altogether too short, and that Government should require

from its indoor employees at least 7 hours work each day,

texclusive of time allowed for meals. Possibly by increasing

; the hours, and also the renumeration the work might be done

in some departments by a smaller staff with greater effi-

ciency and economy.

!

11. All our recommendations as to

salaries are intended to take effect from 1st. January

1900,

(sd) R.M.Gray,

Chairman.

(sd) D.Gillies,

HongKong, 26th. July, 1900.

(sd) Robt.Shewan.

I would add to the foregoing that in my op-

inion a Colony whose revenues are all in silver should nob pay any of its wages in gold. It does not seem to me (reasonable that two men may be doing the same work but that one should be entitled to draw 25% more salary (as exchange compensation) that the other merely because the more fortunate one happens to be domiciled in a gold coin- try. I think that greater consistency would be secured and

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