§ Mr. STEWARTasked whether a military officer holding the rank of major has been appointed to the Governorship of Mauritius; if so, is the appointment caused by a lack of officials in the Colonial Service of sufficient character and ability to fill the appointment; and what are the emoluments attaching to the office?
§ Colonel SEELYYes, Sir. After most careful consideration the Secretary of State for the Colonies recommended to His Majesty an officer whom he considers in all respects fitted for a very difficult and responsible post. It must be understood that a Governorship lies quite outside of the ordinary course of promotion in the Colonial Service. The salary of the office will be in future Rs.50,000, of which Rs.10,000 are to be an entertainment allowance, drawn by the officer Administering the Government in the Governor's absence from the colony.
§ Mr. STEWARTMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman if the Colonial Office considered the disappointment that an outside appointment of this sort causes among all the senior officers in the Colonial Service who have given the best years of their lives to the Service and also the discouragement to good men from entering a Department where seniority counts for so little?
§ Colonel SEELYI will represent to my right hon. Friend what the hon. Gentleman has said. I cannot say more myself.
Sir GILBERT PARKERHas the Governorship any relation to the ordinary official work of the Colonial Office, or any connection whatever with the course of promotion?
§ Colonel SEELYThe answer I read says, "a governorship lies quite outside the ordinary course of promotion in the Colonial Service."
§ Mr. SWIFT MacNEILLIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that Mr. Clifford Lloyd—not a member of the Civil Service, but an ex-Irish Resident Magistrate—was appointed to a Governorship in the Mauritius, and hon. Members above the Gangway did not object to that.
Mr. KINGDoes the salary, as stated, represent a reduction on the former salary, and are the recommendations of the Royal Commission in regard to economy going to be carried out?
§ Colonel SEELYSpeaking from recollection, I believe the salary does represent a large reduction on the previous salary, and the presumption is that that means that economies are to be effected.
§ Colonel YATEIs the statement that Governorships lie outside the scope of the Colonial Service to be accepted as a recognised dictum in future?
§ Colonel SEELYIt is not outside the scope of the Colonial Service; it is within it. The words I have read out are that it lies outside the ordinary course of promotion. I think a Governorship must be so regarded.