CO129-547-10 Memorandum on revision of salaries 1-1-1934 - 31-12-1936 — Page 8

assumption to make any substantial or permanent reduction

in the attractions which they offer. With reference to the

third point it is true that the present limitation in the

number of candidates taken and the partial elimination of

competition from other services have combined to place

recruitment for the Colonial Administrative Service in a

very satisfactory position. But having regard to the

normal wastage it does not seem possible that recruiting

can for very long continue on the present limited basis,

even after allowance has been made for reductions in

establishments. Also, there is clear evidence that in spite

of the general depression, a certain demand continues to

exist for young men of the best type from the Universities,

and that the most desirable candidates do not experience

serious difficulty in obtaining alternative employment.

Thus any permanent deteriorations in the attractions which

the Service offers would be accompanied by a definite risk

of loss in the quality of the candidates coming forward.

Moreover, any reduction in the terms laid down for the

Administrative Staff would inevitably have to be reflected

in a scaling down of the terms offered in respect of other

branches of the service, recruitment for which is not on so

satisfactory a footing and might be even more seriously

prejudiced.

A review of these considerations suggests that

there are only two alternative courses which can safely

be adopted:-

1) To maintain the present conditions of service in

substance for the time being, and to effect any necessary

savings

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savings by way of measures which are definitely of a

temporary character; or

(2) To devise new permanent conditions which, while

if possible representing a saving in the total of

Government expenditure, will be in such a form that,

taking one consideration with another, the attractions

of the Service will not be diminished.

If the latter alternative is practicable,

there is much to be said in its favour, especially if

the matter can be dealt with as part of a scheme of

real unification. It cannot be too strongly emphasised,

however, that in considering a question of this kind it

is necessary to take a long view, and to base decisions

upon fundamental principles. Thus, any scale of salary

must be such as, upon a reasonable estimate in the light

of such evidence as is available, satisfies the following

conditions:-

(1) It must provide an initial rate of pay which

will enable an unmarried officar to live within his

means in conditions suitable to his rank.

(2) It must place the officer in a position to

marry and to enter into normal family commitments at a

reasonably carly period of his life.

(こ) It must provide a definite prospect of reaching

a salary at which the officer can take his natural place

in the world, provide for the education of his children

and meet his social and domestic obligations.

(4) It must be so co-ordinated with the pension

system as to enable the officer to earn, after a normal

career in the Service, an adequate retiring allowance.

(5)

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(5) Generally, it must be a scale which, taken in

conjunction with the other conditions of service, will

compare favourably enough with the attractions offered

by other professions and businesses to secure a

sufficient supply of candidates with the necessary

qualificationa.

Paat experience justified the expectation that

the original unification scheme satisfied these essential

requirements and no evidence is forthcoming which would

support the view that in principle the scheme is in any

way too generous. But if practical considerations

absolutely preclude the acceptance of the scale as it

stands, there are strong arguments in favour of the

view that any reduction should be confined to the lower

end of the scale, provided always thet a clear assurance

can be given that the first of the conditions enumerated

above is fulfilled, and that there is no danger of an

officer who wisely arranges his affairs becoming

financially embarrassed during his early years. In

that the other conditions may be

order, moreover, that the other

fulfilled, it is desirable that there should be some

edjustment of incrementa su that, while on the whole

the scheme may represent a saving in Government

expenditure as compared with existing scales, the point

at which the officer reaches a salary on which he can

live as a married man is not substantially postponed.

Further, account must be taken of the situation

with regard to the retiring age and the pension fraction.

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