148 SOUTH AFRICAN BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY 



degree, or recognised diploma. Conditions of service as 

 applying to such a naturally defined group of officers 

 could then be dealt ivith, irrespective of circumstances 

 peculiar to other Divisions. 



It may be emphasised that an upper and a lower 

 branch may well be instituted in a Scientific and Tech- 

 nical Division, even if it were regarded as undesirable 

 in a Clerical and Administrative Division. A qualifica- 

 tion barrier which no mere experience can surmount is 

 essential in most professions and sciences, and is already 

 recognised in principle. 



(a) Lower Branch. — The lower branch should be re- 

 cruited from matriculated youths who expect to receive 

 their training wholly within the Government Depart- 

 ments which they enter, and any technical vacancies 

 filled by unmatriculated youths should be grouped in a 

 General Division and not in the suggested Technical 

 Division. 



The terms of entry and opportunities for promotion of 

 such matriculants should be the same as those maintain- 

 ing in the Clerical Division, recruited from the same 

 matriculation level, and advancement to the point corres- 

 ponding to that of a first grade clerk should be straight 

 forward. Beyond this, meritorious cases could be dealt 

 with individually or by " relief scale " without involving 

 admission to the upper branch. 



It may be noted that serious grievances of certain 

 matriculated ^'laboratory assistants" would be rectified 

 \ij removing them from the existing " General Division '' 

 and affording them opportunities for uninterrupted pro- 

 motion to the status and emoluments corresponding to 

 those of a first grade clerk. Beyond this they could not 

 expect to go, since they are neither qualified by degree 

 nor eligible for administrative work. 



(b) Upper Branch. — Excluding exceptional cases 

 which Avill always have to be handled in an exceptional 

 way, a University Degree, recognised Diploma, or Special 



