:MIXrTE TO PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION 157 



part of the individual directly engaged upon the work. 

 There is a great tendency towards individual responsi- 

 bility, and the scientific officer, if he is to be effective, 

 must be thoroughly up-to-date in his particular subject. 

 He should, therefore, not be allowed to degenerate into 

 an executive officer of any system in which he finds him- 

 self, but should periodically be afforded an opportunity 

 of coming into contact Avith Institutions in the great 

 scientific centres of the world. This is particularly 

 necessary in the case of officers employed in si)ecial 

 subjects in Government Divisions of which they are more 

 or less isolated units. It is therefore urged that pro- 

 vision should be made to introduce the American 

 principle of " Sabbatical Leave " for officers of the upper 

 branch of the Scientific and Technical Division, and that 

 opportunity- be allowed to such officers to devote one year 

 in seven to advanced study in connection with their 

 official work. It may be pointed out that opportunity for 

 extension of the ordinary G months " cumulative leave " 

 to 12 months, is necessary, in order to allow of con- 

 tinuous work throughout an organised academic year, 

 and at the same time allow the officer to enjoy the 

 ordinary recuperative leave during the academic 

 vacations. 



Such a scheme would not involve any serious cost to 

 the Government, since the period spent in advanced study 

 would have to be certified by the oversea institution as 

 being of definite value to the officer in connection with his 

 official work, and should properly be regarded as ^' duty '^ 

 rather than " leave ". Abuse of the privilege could easily 

 be controlled by insistence upon Departmental sanction 

 of the particular locus of study, and since human nature 

 is what it is, only enthusiastic officers would ever take 

 advantage of the privilege. 



In this connection it might be argued that six months 

 additional leave without pay, would meet the case, and 

 that the recompense for such privately undertaken study 



