CO129-612-4 Administrative Service- proposal to increase establishment 18-5-1947 - 22-12-1947 — Page 22

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4.

It has been clear for a considerable time that the old

establishment would not bear all the demands which immediate commit-

ments would make on it, but in the hope that the progress of post-

war reconstruction would gradually reduce these commitments, my

predecessor and I have deferred addressing you on the subject until

it could be ascertained in the light of more normal conditions what

establishment should be recommended as the minimum consistent with

efficiency. I have also been reluctant to accept the necessity of

requesting the appointment of more than two or three probationers

in any one year, fearing that such a step while upsetting the age

balance of this service would tend to reduce the standard of recruit

provided.

5.

I now consider that there is no likelihood of the demands

of the public service on the Cadet Establishment ever falling below

thirty posts. Although it may become possible at some future date

to disband the Supplies, Trade and Industry Department, the saving

thus effected will be offset by the need of providing one or more

Cadet assistants for the Superintendent of Imports and Exports; and

although the necessity of providing a Cadet Officer for the post of

Public Relations Officer, except to provide leave replacements, will

lapse on the arrival of an officer appointed substantively to that

post, it is expected that any reduction thus occasioned will be offset

by the demands of the Development Secretariat and the Labour Office

Xand the need to provide for the registration of co-operative societies.

Requests, to which the present establishment position has made me unable

to accede, have been received from technical departments for the

appointment of Cadet assistants to relieve the senior technical

officers of the burden of purely administrative work. It is also

impossible at this stage to say whether the new Municipal Council