CO129-557-5 Estimates 1937 19-8-1936 - 7-8-1937 — Page 63

2.

63

5373

31

53707

34

completion of certain works of considerable magnitude, and for the staffing of these institutions when completed. I am satisfied that, under present conditions immediate retrenchment of staff cannot be brought about without serious and uneconomical dislocation of services at present carried on. Steps are already being taken to reduce the proportion of officers recruited from England in certain departments and I have under consideration proposals for the substitution for Europeans of locally engaged officers in technical posts such as that of assistant Engineer in the Public Works Department. Training of these officers as well as of those engaged to take the place of European Police Officers, Sanitary Inspectors and Clerical officers will take time, and I do not advocate reduction of the existing European personnel otherwise than by gradual wastage due to retirement in the normal course.

I have already put forward in my despatch No.491

of 19th August, 1936, proposals for reduced scales of salary in certain offices which, if adopted, will in due course result in a reduction in expenditure.

None of these changes will have an appreciable

effect in 1937; but I refer to them now as a justification for the policy adopted of drawing on surplus balances rather than attempting to balance the budget for that year by any other

means.

I confess to some disappointment that it has proved impossible to spare funds for the construction of a new Mental Hospital which is most urgently required.

5.

I have already referred in the sixth paragrap of my despatch No.492 of the 19th August, 1936, to the construction from loan funds of a new Central Market. I shall be glad to receive in due course your sanction for this