CO129-348 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1908 [7-10] — Page 545

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Gascoigne's Despatch No. 154 of the 18th. April, 1902.

3.

541

The office of Postmaster-General

being one to which Cadets have a preferential claim, Mr.

Messer's claim is on that ground superior to the claim of

Mr. Lewis, especially as the former has acted in this post

with conspicuous success from the 29th. July, 1907, to the

2nd. of last April. Mr. Messer has, moreover, acted in the

important offices of Colonial Treasurer and Registrar-

-General, and has on several occasions held a seat on the

Executive and Legislative Councils, while his financial

capacity and his quickness in dealing with figures, com-

-bined with his power of controlling and enforcing dis-

-cipline in a large Department where organization is es-

-sential, peculiarly fit him for this appointment. I

consider him to be the Officer in this Service who is best

fitted for the post and I think it would be difficult to

find a more thoroughly capable Postmaster-Goneral.

I

venture therefore to strongly recommend him to Your Lord-

-ship for the appointment.

4.

Should Your Lordship approve this

recommendation, the transfer of Mr. Messer to the Post

Office will leave vacant the post of Head of the sanitary

Department, for which the only local candidate is Mr. J.

H.