Economy Demanded
... ——— Is There Over-staffing in N.G.?
To the Editor.
Sir, —May I beg a small space in your valuable paper, to suggest a few economical changes that could well be made in the administration of the district of Kavieng, New Ireland.
First, I would like to deal with the positions of “copra inspector” and customs officer. Both these officers are receiving about £400, respectively, per year, for working about 2 hours per day, with a little extra work on the few and far between boat days.
These two positions could well be combined and worked by one man, who even then would by no means be over-worked.
I was working the labour line of B.P.’s some days ago, loading an overseas copra ship, and had the opportunity of observing the copra inspector and the customs officer. (Here follow details of a day in the life of the two officials, which need not be published. But it certainly does not appear that either gentleman need die at an early age from over-exertion.—Ed. P.I.M.).
The two position of C.I. and C.O. could well be filled by one man of average intelligence, without overworking him at all. The firm of B.P. keeps a shipping clerk at the wharf all the time and he appears to do all the Customs work, bond, etc., while the C.O. is absent.
It is high time these matters were looked into. In the district of Kavieng alone there are nine civil servants —district officer, assistant district officer, police master, two clerks in district office, postmaster (which position could well be combined with that of the junior clerk in D.O.), copra inspector, customs officer and road master. The positions mentioned, of course, do not include the officers of the P.H.D., who do work hard for their salaries.
We civilians here in the Territory have to work very hard, 10 hours a day, for a small return, out of which we pay high taxes to help pay the exorbitant wages of the public service.
I am not vindictive and have nothing against either the copra inspector or customs officer; but the case of these two officers is so glaring—and typical —that one cannot help noticing it. —I am, etc.