CO129-301 - Governor Sir Blake - 1900 [9-12] — Page 127

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two much be obtained at salaries at $1200 rising to $1600 per annum. I have always seen of opinion that the great weakness of the Post office is the want of trained subar- dinates in the General office and for that reason I re- commended when the post af Chief Clerk recently becam vacant, that it should be filled by a trained arficer from. England. A recommendation to that effect was made by Your Excellency but not approved by the Secretary of State. I am still of the same opinion. Portuguese Clerks are as a class careless, inaccurate, and inclined to idleness, -The Department will never be thoroughly efficient till the Subordinate Staff-is leavened with a few trained Taglish-

I would potat to the Gaol as an example of what the as- sistance of trained subordinate officers can effect. There is no comparison betweenthe discipline and general, management of prisoners maintained in the Gaol to-day DIS- der the immediate sipervision of the trained officers obtained. some time ago from home, and the arrangements

which mu obtained when the whole staff was recruited 10.

cally. The Gaol now will bear comparison with an lnglish Fried. Formerly certainly would not have done 10,

Mr, Lewis is of opinion that the 4 Clerks from Iniia, cam

be obtained at the rate of $480 to $840. He derives his

information from an Indian Bostal official.

Harbour Office,

T

The increases to the first, second and third Clerks re-

commended by the Committee are evidently based on the eEX-

Ta@evišta:112 long service of these times afficers.

The salaries as thoj atand seen te me to be sufficient

mižess the classification is adopted, and I would suggest

tão increases rècommended by the Committee to these

three