§ 6. Mr. Thomas Reidasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if, in promoting officers in the Colonial administrative service to Colonial chief secretaryships, promotion is confined to officers of outstanding merit and constructive ability, tested in legislative, judicial or administrative posts in which they were personally responsible, visª vis, their governments and the public; and if he will take steps to prevent any future promotion of assistants in governors' secretariats not necessarily of outstanding merit, mainly engaged in secluded advisory and critical functions, who do not make important decisions and for whose undisclosed work their chiefs, not they, take responsibility.
§ Mr. George HallI intend in the future as in the past to select the officers who in my judgment are best qualified to perform the duties and assume the responsibilities associated with these posts.