§ Mr. MORGAN JONESasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what proportion of the revenue of Grenada is paid to the Colonial Secretary, the chief justice, and other officials and civil servants; and whether any alteration is to be made in the composition of the legislature which at present consists of 16 members, eight of whom are officials, three nominated and five elected?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThe latest estimates available (1931) show the estimated figure of revenue as £142,156. The estimated expenditure on personal emoluments under all heads of the estimates for the same year is £50,684. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.
§ Mr. JONESasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether it was on instructions from this country that the official members of the Government of Grenada refused to accept the proposals for a 10 per cent. cut in the salaries of civil servants; whether he is aware that the non-official members left the legislature, 1656W and that in their absence the estimates for the year were passed; and, seeing that the non-official members are resigning and offering themselves for reelection, whether, if their policy is approved, steps will be taken to enforce the cut of 10 per cent. in the salaries of civil servants?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERLast summer a financial commissioner, Sir S. Armitage-Smith, visited various islands in the Lesser Antilles and investigatedinter alia the question of salaries. He formed the view that the general level of salaries ruling throughout these islands was so low that any general reduction of salaries would be inequitable, and would seriously prejudice the efficiency of the service. After consultation with the Treasury, and after discussing the matter personally with Sir Sydney Armitage-Smith, I felt bound to give effect to that view. Consequently when the Governor, by agreement with the unofficial members, referred to me a proposal, which the latter had made and which he had been unable to accept, for a 10 per cent. cut in official salaries in Grenada, I informed him that I could not approve the proposal. The reply to the second part of the question is in the affirmative. With regard to the last part, I am not prepared to give any such undertaking.