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(e.) In Servants' wages there has been a rise of from 10 to 15 per cent., owing principally to the rise in the price of food. Fish, vegetables, and oil have greatly increased in cost, and so have firewood and* charcoal.

(d.) Imported articles have increased in price, and the rise has been, generally speaking, in proportion to the fall in exchange.

(e.) The cost of Medical Attendance has also increased. The annual fee has risen from $50 to $100; and single visits from $5 to $10.

(f.) In the case of Officers who have families to maintain or educate in England, and who have not the privilege of remitting at the par of exchange, the decreased purchasing power of the dollar is se- verely felt. An education equal to that obtainable at home is not at present to be obtained here, and, moreover, on grounds of health alone, the children of European parents have to be sent away at the age of six or seven.

6. On the 20th November the Commission met for the purpose of consider- ing to what extent the salaries of Members of the Civil Service should be raised,

7. The Commission having reviewed all the circumstances of the case rècom- mend generally as follows:-

(a.) That the salaries of officers selected in England or holding positions which are usually filled up by officers so selected having originally been fixed on a sterling basis when the dollar was worth 4/2d. should be raised to an amount in current dollars equivalent to their original sterling value. The privilege enjoyed by a few of the officers of this class of remitting at the par of exchange should be withdrawn and all such officers put on an equal footing.

(b.) That the value of the dollar should for the purpose of paying such salaries be based on the average rate for the twelve months next preceding such value to be fixed by the Legislative Council in the Annual Estimates. Such a system would, the Commission is informed, be similar in result to the practice which obtains in the Army and in the Consular service.

(c.) That the salaries of other officers who have suffered from the depre- ciation of the dollar and who as a class may be deemed to be domiciled in the East should be increased by 20 per cent.

(d.) That with regard to officers such as labourers, coolies and mes- sengers whose wages have from time to time fluctuated with the local labour market no alteration should be made.

8. The report of a Committee of Civil Servants on the subject of the inade- quacy of existing salaries is printed as Appendix II. and a report by the Hon. C. P. CHATER on the increased value of house property as Appendix III.

F. CLARKE, Acting Chief Justice.

P. RYRIE.

WONG SHING.

C. P. CHATER.

J. J. KESWICK.

B. LAYTON.