-6-
74
19.
Personal emoluments which cover basic salaries only are estimated at $45,126,874 to which must be added the figure of $28,000,000 provided under the Miscellaneous Services' Head in respect of cost of living allowances. Railway cost of living allowances also amount to a further $700,000. This makes a total of $73,826,874 in respect of the personal emoluments of the Government staff. There are, however, two other items of $5,000,000 and $1,800,000 respectively under the Subventions Head in respect of grants to Grant-aided and Vernacular schools. These payments are in respect of teachers' salaries in these schools, and it must be borne in mind that so far as Grant- aided schools are concerned, these salaries a re linked to those of teachers in Government schools. Thus any adjustment in Government salaries or cost of living allowance results in a corresponding adjustment in this grant which at present stands at $5,000,000.
20.
Too much is undoubtedly being spent on personal emoluments. No opportunity to reduce staff has been neglected, but with the need to secure ever higher standards of safety in air travel it has constantly been necessary to yield to demands for increases in staff in both the Civil Aviation Department and the Royal Observatory. Nevertheless small reductions have been effected in some departments, and in the Sanitary Department there has been a reduction of 200, mostly in menial staff. Altogether there have so far been staff cuts amounting to approximately 380 employees.
21.
The Adviser on Methods and Organisati on has begun his investigations and there are already indications that he will be able to recommend certain reductions in clerical and subordinate staff. He has almost completed his survey of the Secretariat and has made a start on the Public Works Department. He is satisfied that in the Secretariat a staff cut of at least ten per cent will be possible mostly in the clerical grade and that, after the new system of procedures has been in operation for eighteen months or so, a further small cut may be possible. As similar systems especially of registration are in operation in all Departments, it appears probable that staff reductions on the same scale will be possible, at any rate in the larger Departments.
22.
Other Charges for 1949-50, excluding Public Works Extraordinary and Special Expenditure, and also cost of living allowances total $72,357,096 as compared with the figure of $68,456,576 for the year which has just ended. Special Expenditure, excluding Public Works Extraordinary, totals $11,468,520 as compared with $6,714,060 in 1948-49.
23.
Points calling for comment in the departmental expenditure estimates have been dealt with in detail in the memorandum on the estimates, copies of which are enclos ed with this despatch, but there are certain developments to which I should like to draw your attention.
24.
The old Development Secretariat has ceased to exist, and its various components are now shown under separate heads. Agriculture and Fisheries are shown as separate departments, and the Fisheries and Vegetable Marketing Organisations appear under a new head entitled Co-operatives and Marketing. abolition of the old Development Secretariat Directorate has The future of the post resulted in some economies in staff.
The
of Secretary for Development has not yet been decided, and only a token provision has been inserted under the Colonial
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.