CO129-569-8 Reorganisation of Administrative Service 4-4-1938 - 17-11-1938 — Page 25

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senior grade, the members of which are available to

fill any of the senior administrative posts, is highly

flexible and enables the square peg to be removed from

the round hole to one which fits him better. Under the

alternative system of substantive appointment to

individual posts public convenience and efficient

administration may necessitate the promotion of an

officer some way down the list, who happens to be best

suited by training and natural aptitude for a particular

vacancy but whose promotion may involve passing over a

number of men senior to him of equal general efficiency

but less suited for the particular vacancy. The public

interest unquestionably is better safeguarded under the

existing system.

4. Almost equally important is the fact that the

welfare of the administrative service is, in my view,

more assured thereby. I have referred to difficulties

which may be occasioned by the necessity of selecting

a suitably qualified officer for a particular vacancy

but difficulties of some sort must infallibly arise

on every promotion under such a system, as will be shown

by consideration of a practical example. Assume that the

Senior Cadet Officers on the time-scale are A and B,

that the post of Principal Assistant Colonial Secretary (salary £1350) has fallen vacant and that A is promoted

thereto, passing over the Chief Assistant Secretary for

Chinese Affairs am Senior Assistant Colonial Treasurer

(salaries £1300), who are regarded as less suitable for

that particular appointment. Assume further that a few months later the post of the Postmaster General (salary