Correspondence and reports regarding the budget and staff complement of the South African Astronomical Observatory. There is material concerning proposals for staffing needs; the transfer of Cape staff; advertisements and applications for various posts; the budget for 1972-1973; the future of the Lyot heliograph and kinetheodolite, 1972; and the tapering fund of contributions to the South African Astronomical Observatory from the Science Research Council. The correspondence is largely between G.A. Harding, the Revd R. Woolley, A. Hunter and members of the Science Research Council administration.