CO129-454 - Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1919 [4-6] — Page 242

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4.

With regard to paragraph 7 I am in

favour of an increase in the number of classes in the case

of offices open to cadets from three to four as recommended,

but this classification should, in my opinion, be confined to such offices. There should be a separate grouping of all

other senior offices. Subordinate and clerical appointments

should also be treated separately. The sentence in this

paragraph of the report relating to quarters and rent can be

more conveniently treated later on.

5.

I have already expressed my general

agreement with the proposal in paragraph 5 of the report to

abolish duty pay and most allowances, and in considering the

scales of salary recommended in paragraph 8 of the report I

have not been unmindful of the fact that duty pay was intro-

-duced for the double purpose of reducing the salary on which

an officer's pension would be calculated and which would be

drawn while on leave, while not diminishing the actual sum

received by an officer when at work. There was a fear that if

salaries were increased without such a compromise the Eastern Colonies and Dependencies might become liable for payments

on account of pensions representing a larger proportion of

their revenues than could be justified. This fear has not been proved to be well founded, and I have no reason to

think that it ever will be. For this reason, and because the principle has worked somewhat unfairly as regards pensions and leave pay I agree with the Commissioners that duty pay

should be abolished.

6.

I am not clear as to the meaning of paragraph 9 of the report, as House or rent allowances have no connection with Government quarters. If the first 18 words were omitted and the paragraph began "We would repre- -sant etc. I have no objection to offer to the proposal which is substantially in accordance with existing rules.

7.