CO129-524-1 Reports of Salaries Commission 31-12-1929 - 27-10-1930 — Page 99

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receiving a salary of over £300 a year or its equivalent in

dollars should be entitled to claim overtime pay, except under

circumstances where it is regularly unavoidable.

(iv) Questions relative to the provision of Government

Quarters or House Allowances.

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As we do not agree with the main recommendations of the

Commission's Report, we have no comment to make upon the General

Orders dealing with rented quarters, rent, and lodging allowances,

as framed to conform to the existing scales of pay.

While reviewing this part of the Commission's Report, we

are forcibly impressed with the very favourable conditions under

which senior and, in some cases, junior employees obtain living

accommodation. The value of these is perhaps not fully appreciated Then comparing the pay of Government servants with that of private

employees. A most important benefit is obtained by the majority

of the employees of the Government in the shape of free or rented

quarters, or house allowances, and the monetary value of such

benefit should be calculated and added to the monthly salaries

before comparing them with those paid outside. The benefit may

be worth, in the case of a senior officer, anything from $100 to

$200 a month.

China New Year Bonus.

With regard to the question of payment of China New Year

Bonus to native employees, we find that in several cases the

payment of this is made in accordance with the old Chinese custom

but, in cases where the practice does not already exist, its intro-

duction is considered undesirable, the view being held that the

payment is tantamount to an increase of pay which is not considered

propitious at the present time of trade stagnation and general

commercial depression.

In view of the opinions received, which are not in favour