, 1874-05-27
The AVIS"
THE WEST INDIAN IN LONDON
(Concluded)
EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAY,

The directors of the Royal Mail Steam Pack
ct Company announce in the report to their
shareholders that they have obtained the re-
newal of the contract for the conveyance ofthe
mails, not, however, upon the old terms, but at
a considerable reduction. This subsidy for the
West India service is now fixed at "a, 1901,
without any division Of profits between the COM
pany and the Government, as was the case un-
der the old contract. The present contract is
for the usual term of five years, ending in De-
cember 1879. The difference between the old
aud new subsidy is rather considerable, but the
shareholders seemed satisfied with it at the an
nual meeting, and some of them thought that
the directors might have given them a larger
dividend. The company seems altogether in
a sound and satisfactory state-the feet is in
good order, and the insurance fund adequate.
There is some competition to be encountered,
but so long as the management remains as en-
terprising and skilful as at present, there need
be no fear as to the successful working of the
company, even with the reduced subsidy from
Government. Now that the service will be
carried on, not only without loss, but probably
with some profit by the Government, a reduc-
ton of postage might fairly be asked for.
The remarks in this column some time ago
upon the cost of sugar production have given
rise to a very interesting and valuable discus
sion in the Demerara papers Mr.. Russell's
letter is especially good, and an opportunity
will be taken to review it at some length. 1t
is a complete vindication of the colony from the
charge Of want of enterprise and backwurdnesS
in adopting Improvements in the manufacture
of the staple which is sometimes brought by cri-
ties who are superior in nothing but their ignO-
rance and rashuess.
The time seems now to have arrived when the
-SIA ..o~,,1.- 4o1y, into oCpoIH-
Grafton the question of admitting residents in the
colonies to a greater share in the Civil Service
of those colonies. Appointments are continual
" being given to perfect strangers, which
might fairly be placed within the reach of
those who have been born and educated in the
colony, and who have now to seek elsewhere
a career suitable to their abilities. New blood
is a very good thing and highly necessary to
the continuance Of effective administration,
but why it should not be drawn sometimes from
the colony, instead of almost invariably from
this country, it is difficult to understand.
If the proper men could not be obtained in the
colony let them be sent out from home by all
means, but local ability, knowledge, and eX-
p|erience should first be taken into considera-
ton. And when a man does enter the service
In a subordinate capacity, his prospect of pro-
motion is limited to the point at which the
patronage of the Secretary of State begins.
No matter how able and assiduous he may be
in the discharge of his duties, no matter how
carefully he has trained himself for the higher
positions in his department, he finds when q
vacancy occurs that be is passed over in favour
Of an official from England whose name has
never before been heard in the colony, who is
quite new to the duties of the position, and
who may or may not develop into an efficient
public servant. That those who work their
way from a subordinate position should have
an arbitrary line drawn beyond which their
legitimate ambition should not reach, is not at
all conducive to the attractiveness of the
service in the eyes of able men, and prevents
that thorough homogeneousness of the service
which is alone consistent with the highest
efficiency. It is not required, of course, that
the Secretary of State should give up the
patronage of these appointments. Such q
thing would not be desired for a moment, but
1t may be recommended that the principle Of
promotion should be adopted, and when q
valuable appointment becomes vacant, the
claims of the officer in the next rank should be
considered before a stranger is appointed from
home. These remarks are partly suggested
by the recent appointment of Mr.. Knollys as
sub receiver-general in Trinidad. This gentle.
man NAV he narfaotIv wefl-nualifad for the