CO129-349 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1908 [10-12] — Page 536

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they have become habituated.

530

Under the existing system in

which the work of the District Officer and of the Assistant

Land Offi cer is as far as possible kept in two separate

watertight compartments, the removal of either officer by

promotion or transfer completely dislocates the machinery

for a time. By the creation of a District Officer and

Assistant District Officer with identical duties and work-

W

ing in co-operation, continuity is assured. When one or

other is promoted or is absent on leave or sick, and the

newcomer has some one on the spot to whom to look for gul-

dance and information.

9.

Under the scheme I propose both

officers would exercise identical powers in regard to land

questions, and divide the work between them.

There would

be no appeal to the District Officer from a decision of the

Assistant District Officer just as at present there is no

appeal to the Land Officer.

Both officers would work

directly under the Land Officer who is responsible for the

preservation of the policy and method approved by Govern-

ment but the allocation of work would lie with the District

Officer.

Magisterial functions would be exercised inde-

pendently, in the same way as the first and second Police

Magistracies in Hongkong.

In the matter of the collection of

Rent