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Wednesday, October 17, 1973

A further and "conclusive argument," he added, was that public

confidence was very much involved.

"Clearly the public would have more confidence in a unit that was

entirely independent and separate from any department of the government,

including the palice,"

To combat corruption, the Governor said, good laws and good organisation

were essential, "but I put my trust principally in the services of sound men."

He was certain that the service as a whole would accept that "grave

situations call for unusual measures, and that honest officers, the huge

majority, have nothing to fear and indeed everything to gain."

Turning to the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry conducted by

Sir Alastair Main-Kerr, the Governor said the government generally accepted the

objectives of the recommendations. They were being examined in detail in

consultation with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Council.

He hoped that legislation could be introduced shortly in the Legislative

"Where appropriate, discussions with the main staff associations will

be held as some of the changes suggested to civil service regulations will be

controversial and staff associations will, rightly, seek to protect the interests

of their members."

The Governor had a special word of praise for Sir Alastair on the

thorough and forthright way he had performed his task "with a minimum of soft soap

and a maximum of objectivity."

On the Godber affair, Sir Murray said it had highlighted the case for

amending the Fugitive Offenders Act, as recommended by Sir Alastair.

/The