CO129-448 - Governor Sir May - 1918 [4-6] — Page 256

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Now no officer of high standing would, I think, take the

course of making an application or if he did the process

would be at least an exceedingly distasteful one; and there

is also the fact that the result is dependent on the discre-

tion of the Governor, this being contrary to the generally

understood principle that an Officer's Emoluments are decided

solely by the Secretary of state.

It is I submit elso introducing a new element in the matter

of an officer's remuneration, that of uncertainty as to the

amount.

An officer on leave with a house on his hands would still

continue to pay his full rent, full taxes and other things

but would receive only one half of the igual allowance

(provided his application were successful). Surely this

position must be considered inequitable when it is remembered

thet, (the allowance being only of a temporary nature pending

the construction of dwellinge by Government), under the final

scheme no like disabilities whatever would occur whereas under】

the temporary scheme, even if the officer gets his full

allowance, he still has to pay out of his own pocket the

Government Rent (say $60.- a month) during his absence from

the Colony.

This disability occurs too at a time when the other taxes on

his means are extraordinary viz: for passages to and from the

Colony, lodging outside the Colony end other expenses

incidental to an unsettled life,

Surely it cannot be held that the general principles of the

scheme are being carried out in such circumstances by grant-

ing only half the allowance in some cases and in others by

giving nothing at all.

As a matter of fact I am unable to conjecture why the figure

of one half was fixed as a maximum, unless it were suggested

by the idea of half pay leave,