Catalogue description Colonial Office: Commission to enquire into the Service, Salary Scales, etc. of Colonial Government Staff

Three commissions were appointed between 1945 and 1947 to enquire into the structure, remuneration and superannuation arrangements of the Civil Services in the African Colonies, with special reference to the following points:

• (i) The relationship of the salaries and conditions of service of locally recruited and externally recruited officers
• (ii) Advancement of officers from one grade to another
• (iii) Incorporation of element of cost of living bonus in salaries
• (iv) Method of conversion to new scales
• (v) Disposal of any balance of cost of living bonus not incorporated in salary on conversion
• (vi) Provision of suitable arrangements for consultation between Governments and organisations representing the interests of staff on matters relating to salaries and conditions of service
• (vii) The provision, by means of Public Service Commissions or otherwise, of suitable machinery, where this is not already in existence, for regulating the selection and promotion of candidates for posts, the filling of which is not subject to the approval of the Secretary of State

The three commissions were:

• (a) the Holmes Commission covering the territories in East Africa, the report of which was published in 1948 as Colonial No. 223
• (b) the Harragin Commission covering the territories in East Africa, Colonial No. 209 of 1947
• (c) the Fitzgerald Commission covering Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland, Colonial No. 222 of 1948