Oct. 18.
The Shanghai Municipal Council's: adoption of the Controller's scheme for modifying the classification of passage allowances is a definite measure of economy. The Council does well to encourage departmental recommendations on such lines. It understood that other internal faction has been taken to ensure, elimination of unnecessary expenditure. There is a belief that the revision of staffing arrangements might be productive of further savings. Although it is probable that the responsible heads of departments are by no means extra~ vagantly paid, it is suggested that modern conditions do not support the scale of emoluments and Jpension allowances applicable to what may be termed purely cleric cal appointments. The British Civil Service tackled this question Yang ago and steps were taken drastically to discourage the maintenance of the old traditions Jwhich held that the minor civil servant, like the fountains in Trafalgar Square, played from ten to four. Some of those traditions still persist in the Council's administration—not perhaps in an excessive degree but in sufficient vigour to justify specific departmental action at a time when the Council is anxious to vindicate the principles of retrenchment and reform. And that departmental self-improvement is already in train. As will be noted, the new rules for passages cannot be enforced without regard to the contracts of service—hence the six months' notice which is to be given fof certain prescribed variations. similar consideration may have be taken into account in revising lather terms of service with the same object in view. The Council fortunate in having loyal and public-spirited employees who can be trusted to ce-operate in meeting the general demand for a thorough scrutiny of its staffing arrangements.
Having thus endorsed the principle of economy and the relevant retrenchment necessary to Jcarry it into effect, this Journal con Jsiders that a warning has to be given. It would be a mistake to Imagine that initiative in this matter is solely inspired from outside. Reference to successive reports of the Council will show that the Controller, in fulfilment of his prescribed duties has vigilantly reviewed departmental _require= ments. He has admitted that from the various responsible heads he has received good support. Human nature being what it is, it is not surprising that, at a time of general depression in a mainly commercial community, envious glances are cast at the apparent security of the public service. When firms are cutting down expenses by reduce Jestablishments and curtailing salaries, the lot of the municipal Jemployee seems to be peculiarly! happy. He or she is regarded—quite unfairly—as being indifferent to and unaffected by the prevailing distress. Expression of these views becomes at times vchement—so vehement as to be grossly unjust and wildly ill-informed. Logic ts thrown to the winds. Critics who jate ready to authorize expenditure on expensive and probably unnecessary expert inquirers imported temporarily from outside will in the same breath attack the Council for overseas recruitment, regardless of the actual facts. The other day objection was taken to the advertisement of certain appointment in London, American and Japanese journals. It was suggested that local advertisement was sufficient. In point of fact only one local candidate was forthcoming. The answer of course is that the Council's advisers in seeking to fill vacancies are well aware of the: field of recruitment and do not look. beyond Shanghai if they feel that) reasonably good selection can be obtained here. The Council ts bound to adhere to its policy of; giving general preference to local talent, but if it is not to deprive itself' of the expert knowledge ordinarily required by a municipal administration it must continue to resort to overseas recruitment.
That is why it is highly important to maintain a proper per: Jspective in approaching the prob~ em of retrenchment. Contractual Jobligations with staff must be faithfully observed. The Settlement, as was pointed out yester-Jday, has benefitted by the creation Jof a permanent civil service of a reasonably good type, free from those defects which inevitably ac-Jerue when public officials are underpaid and insecure. It would lbe a sad day for Shanghai it those traditions were jettisoned. If in the usual field of overseas recruit-
Jment it were once known that municipal service in Shanghai was lable to be affected by repudiations Jot contract or variations in the terms of appointment dictated by Political pressure, then the Coun-[it's representatives would have an exceedingly diMlcult task in commending its appointments to the class of man hitherto attracted here, responsible language on this subject is all too rife at the moment.
Let Shanghai cast its mind back to the "boom" periods when the commercial community was supremely Jeomplacent. Nothing was expected to check its prosperity. "Generosity flourished like the bay tree. In [the midst of this affluence served the Municipal employee who would not have been human it he had not wondered whether he had taken his talents to the right market.
had one—and only one—source of consolation: comparatively Imeagre though his pay was, it was "safe" and, in due course, he could be sure of a pension, after a long term of years. Now, to judge from some criticisms, it is desired {to deprive him of that advantage—an advantage for which he has duly contracted and which the Council has deliberately offered him for value received. Shanghai may have many faults: they do not finelude sympathy with sharp practice or any form of "billing." Yet that in plain language is what is being advocated by the sponsors fof certain measures of municipal retrenchment. No decent citizen— lor, to put it on lower grounds, no practical _man—will hesitate" in condemning such folly,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.