CO129-419 - Individuals - 1914 — Page 445

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there could be no improved change in the circumstances of my case

to consider at the end of three years.

Their recommendation was made, and was approved by the Secre-

tary of State in official language which I have referred to in my

letter to you dated 16th June last, in which I humbly contend that

the second instalment was arranged to follow automatically, in the absence of promotion. That (the absence of promotion) was, I sub-

mit, the only point which the Secretary of State had in his mind

when he used in his despatch the words "prepared to consider".

I have the assurance of the then Governor (H.E. Sir Frederick

Lugard) that my view of the Government's intention is correct, and

that he understood the Secretary of State's despatch sanctioned

the maximum pensionable personal allowance of £120 a year, pro-

vided I had received no promotion at the end of three years.

The Hon: Director of Public Works has written in the official

minutes to the same effect, the Treasury also sharing the same

view.

The present difficulty has come about, as far as I can see,

through two important facts having with the lapse of time been

lost sight of:

•

(a) That the pensionable personal allowance granted to me

is a matter apart from and independent of the salary

attached to the post of "Superintendent of Accounts,

Correspondence and Stores";

(b) That the only point left for consideration after a

lapse of three years is whether I have received pro-

motion, and, if so, to what extent over £600 per annum

the promotion may have increased my salary, with a

view to ensuring that I will not draw more than a

pensionable maximum of £720 per annum, inclusive of

the pensionable personal allowance.

+

These two facts are evident in the Hongkong Government's

despatch containing their recommendation, and they are specially

Zug repeated in the Secretary of State's approving despatch, when it

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