Sessional_Paper_1901 — Page 609

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has been a source of much complaint from the public in the past few years. In this Department, out of a total staff of 38 subordinate officers brought to our notice, no less than 20 are inexperienced juniors engaged within the last 12 months at a salary of $40 ( + about $4 for sorting) per month, and above them there are 9 others with 2 or 3 years' service earning from $45 (+ about $4 for sorting) to $60 (+ about $8 for sorting). Without elaborating a scheme to remodel the Department, we are strongly of the opinion that. in order to secure a really efficient service, it is advisable, in place of such numbers of beginners, to engage the ser- vices of a certain number of experienced sorters from home, who will not only be able to put through their work efficiently, but also to teach by example the junior sorters their proper duties. We are farther of opinion that the Shanghai Branch of the Post Office is thoroughly undermanued, and that it should be re-organisel on a more liberal scale.

8. We stated in the beginning that we have been chiefly influenced by the fact that the cost of living has greatly increased during the past few years, as well as to a certain extent by the individual merits of each case, so far as we have len able to ascertain them, but our reasons in many cases have been so diverse, and so many points have to be taken into consideration in coming to a conclusion. that we have not attempted to set forth in detail the grounds for each recommendation. It will, we trust, be considered sufficient if we say that we have carefully weirhei the facts for and against each application, and, while trying to meet the individual necessities of the case, and the claims of long service, we have also endeavourel to do away with some anomalies, and to make salaries in the various departments more consistent. We have not been able to do this as thoroughly as we could have wished, owing to the different customs which obtain in each department as to allowances for free quarters, chair hire, &c., &e.

9. While acknowledging the assistance received at the hands of all Heads of Departments and their subordinates, we feel bound to point out the difficulty that a Commission of this description must necessarily experience in weighing the pros and cons of so many applications, and also the impossibility of obtaining all the facts required to form an absolutely definite opinion of the merits of each case. We have however done our best to get at the truth, and at such points as would enable us to decide whether the salaries at present paid are below the current rate, and we can but express the hope that our suggestions may prove of service to the Government in arriving at such an adjustment as may satisfy all parties concerned.

10. While recommending increased salaries, it appears to us at the same time that office hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.in., including absence for lunch, are altogether too short, and that Government should require from its indoor employés, at least 7 hours' work each day, exclusive of time allowed for meals. Possibly by in- creasing the hours, and also the remuneration, the work might be done in some departments by a smaller staff with greater efficiency and economy.

11. All our recommendations as to salaries are intended to take effect from 1st January, 1900.

Hongkong, 26th July, 1900.

R. M. GRAY,

Chairman.

D. GILLIES.

ROBT. SHEWAN.

I wou'd add to the foregoing that in my opinion a Colony whose revenues are all in silver should not pay any of its wages in gold. It does not seen to me reasonable that two men may be doing the same work but that one should be entil d to draw 25 per cent. more salary (as exchange compensation) than the other merely because the more fortunate one happens to be "domiciled" in a gold country. I think that greater consistency would be secured and a simpler and better system created if all these allowances were commuted for a fixed amount of salary in the currency of the Colony.

26th July, 1900.

ROBT. SHEWAN.