text: corrected the problems identified with regard to examinations and recruitment at the P-1 and P-2 levels and that the functions of all Professional posts were clearly identified so that objectivity was in no way compromised. 8. The unified personnel structure advocated by the staff was an ideal, but in practice it must confront two basic realities of the United Nations administrative structure, namely that, given the nature of its work, the Organization would always require substantial support staff, and that Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter called for equitable geographical balance in the Secretariat. Since, in the interests of cost-effectiveness, most support staff were locally recruited, it would be difficult to limit the preponderance of nationals of the various host countries and thus to provide equal access to the Secretariat by all Member States. His delegation bel1eved moreover that the career development needs of the General Service and related categories were being met by their inclusion in the new career development system, the opportunity to move from the General Service to the Professional category by means of internal competitive examinations and the proposed introduction of a long-service step into the salary scales of all categories of staff. 9. · With regard to the staff's interpretation of current conditions of service, in particular the social obligation which the staff ascribed to the Organization in requesting extension of the education gra~t and housing allowances to General Service and locally recruited staff, justice might perhaps be best served by correcting current abuses in the application of what were essentially expatriate benefits. If those abuses were not corrected, even greater inequities and distortions might result. The staff's requests also raised the fundamental problem / ... A/C.5/39/SR.26 English Page 5 (Mr. Hepburn, Bahamas) of the validity of the surveys of best prevailing local conditions conducted by 
analysis: The text appears to be discussing the internal workings of the United Nations, specifically its personnel structure, recruitment, and benefits. It mentions the career development system, education grants, housing allowances, and the need for equity and fairness in the allocation of benefits. The language used is formal and bureaucratic, suggesting that the text is related to administrative or policy issues within the organization.