CO129-454 - Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1919 [4-6] — Page 374

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the policy of the Government to reduce the number of European Officers. The salaries proposed by me are large enough to attract officers of a good stamp, and I feel sure that under

thair supervision selected Chinese graduates would be able to

perform much of the work at present performed by the junior

European Schoolmasters and junior Engineers and Surveyors.

Most of the ordinary surveying could undoubtedly be done by

qualified Chinese, who show a peculiar aptitude for the work.

I would like to go into the question with the Governor and

will, therefore, write no more on the subject at present.

7.

Railway Department.

In my opinion this Deparment is over- -staffed. There is no need for a Manager and an Engineer.

There should be an Officer combining both these offices on a

salary of £900 rising to £1,100 by annual increments of £25.

I would, therefore, allow the present Manager who will short-

-ly reach his maximum to continue to draw increments of £25

up to £1,100. I would place the Engineer on the salary pro-

-posed for a first grade Executive Engineer namely, £700

rising to £800 by annual increments of £20, and in considera-

-tion of his long and efficient service in the post I would

allow him to draw £800 from the 1st. January, 1920. The

Manager will be 52 years of age on the 6th. January, 1920. His

health is not very good and I think it would be desirable and

economical to allow him to retire at the end of the year 1920

on the maximum salary of the post and to appoint the present

Engineer to be Manager and Engineer from the 1st. January,

1921, on the minimum salary I have proposed. An Assistant

Engineer on a salary of £400 to £600 could then be appointed,

I would also abolish the post of

Assistant Locomotive Superintendent and give the Locomotive

Superintendent the salary proposed for a second grade Executive Engineer, namely, £600 rising to £700 by annual

increments of £20, with free quarters,

Some