CO129-599-1 Salaries Commission 8-12-1947 - 22-12-1947 — Page 347

OUTWARD TELEGRAM

Mt.on FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES

2706/8/47

1491:

47

Code

TO GOVERNOR-GENERAL, FALAYA (Mr. M. MacDonald)

(at Singapore)

Sent 16th December, 1947. 11.30 hrs,

No. 762 Confidential.

Addressed Governor-General, Malaya,

Repeated

GOV..

17:

13

Malayan Union, No. 1601. Singapore, No. 1271, (Governor General please pase).

Hong Lord No 907

My telegram No. 727,

Malayan Salaries Commission,

Departments concered, with help of Trusted, have been making preliminary study of report in order to be ready for recommendations of Malayan Governors when they arrive. One point has arisen which I should like Governors to consider immediately and to take into account when submitting recommendations. Paragraph 32 of the report refers to the importance of not permitting cost of living allowance to remain as a permanent part of Government Officers' emoluments in event of a general fall in prices and recommends machinery for quarterly review. Importance is attached to this recommendation here, and it is felt that it is essential to have some kind of definite standard which those undertaking the review can use as a basis, It is appreciated that present high prices affect different grades of the public serivees in different degrees, and formula to be evolved should take this into account. Governors will wish to consider whether such a formula would be capable of inclusion in a public announcement, or whether it would be best to rely on appointment of a board of reviewers of a character to demend public confidence. In any case aim should be to achieve duel purpose of providing reviewers with a practical yardstick and reassuring membere of public service that periodic reductions in cost of living allowance were not being effected arbitrarily.

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