The Treasurer suggested that any question of an increase in the amount Of temporary bonus might better be deferred until the half-yearly accounts were available for examina tion and the ability of the Council to finance the additional east considered. 'The Staff Committee, however, took the view that the community' must bbe prepared to pay its servants a fair wage according to conditions ruling from time to time and that it was their duty to consider the effect of Tecent increased costs on the staff and to determine what should' be done by way of relief.
Consideration was then given to the scale of temporary allowances for Chinese staff not serving under letter of appointment. It was decided to recommend the Council to abolish this scale and to substitute a dat rate temporary cost. of living allowance of 20 per cent. of the monthly pay issued to Chinese employees not serv ing under letters. of appointment whose names are borne on the. de-
Partmental monthly pay sheets. This allowance also would. be subject to Feview at the and of September, 1939.
'The 'Treasurer estimated that' these further increases "will, on the basis of a drop in exchange from 8d. to Md, cost in a full year approximately $1,192,700." This estimate is com-uted as foliows:— eas lowing
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.