The S.C.A.C. was of the opinion that the setting up of this Commission after
 Federation would have as its object the taking of responsibility out of the hands
 of the Federal Government in the task of transferring and promoting members of
 the Federal Service. But in the general Service of the individual Colonies we will
 see that even when Federation comes, the Federal Government will not take over
 from the. Territorial Government, and therefore the whole, scheme of the Civil
 Service Association will bristle with difficulties.
 The members of the Civil Service are of the opinion that to have a Public
 Services Commission set up means that it will provide promotion to the junior
 establishment of the Service. But how can we envisage such a thing? While,
 members may .be promoted from the small islands to the larger islands, it may
Also have the effect of bringing down from the larger islands less desirable holders
of posts in those islands. And so I do not think that until Federation comes there
is any desirability.of establishing a federal service. When Federation-comes, the
Commission will have that function to perform. and will take care of transfers etc.
in the Federal service.
 I cannot see how unification of the services will be helpful now,, knowing
 individual islands as I do. I think something has just occurred in St. Lucia -
 where it is the feeling that their people should be promoted first. It is the same
.feeling in all the.islands.
 'So I think it is a false outlook of the Civil Service Association to think that its
 members will be promoted from -island to island. In fact there is no
 recommendation from the Civil Service as to how this scheme can be worked out.
 The only thing that will solve the problems of the members of a. Federal
 Service in these islands is Federation itself. I therefore, take much pleasure in
 seconding the motion and ask'Honourable Members to give it consideration, and
 -the Civil Service to have patience and wait until the time comes when Federation
 takes place.
 SHonourable Crown-Attorney: I beg leave to move the following counter-
 motion :.
 That this Council accepts .the Report of the Commission appointed by
 the Secretary of State for the Colonies, under the Chairmanship. of Sir
 Maurice Holmes, C.B.E., K.C.B., to consider the question of the Unification of
 the Public Services in the British Caribbean Area."
 I am afraid that both the mover and seconder of the motion seem to be
 .confused in their minds. I understood the motion to mean that the setting up of
 a Public Services Commission should not be proceeded with, but I am now forced
 to the conclusion that-the object was to criticise the report and to show up what
 S the mover considered to be its weak points. What should have been done was to ,
 try and convince this Council why it should not proceed with :a Public .Service .
 ,Commission before Federation.
 The Honourable Member pointed out the difference between unification and
 federalization of a Service and quoted paragraph 4 of the Holmes Report in
 support of his contention. He said that federalization presupposes the existence
 of a Federal Government' and the decision to make the service in question- a
 federal one. I admit 'that unification of a service is different from its
 federalization in that the former process does not involve any constitutional
 changes, and leaves the Governments of the several colonies free to pursue their
 individual policies. The duties of the Public' Service Commission would be to
 perform such functions as may fall to them in regard to recruitment to, promotions
 and transfers in a unified service and to this extent the powers possessed by the
 Governments of individual colonies will be modified.