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who was proposed by Mr. Merreny was supported by the two other non-official members and by the Colonial Treasurer for retention of the item. In the vote, it was voted for by the Auditor General, the Attorney General, the Colonial Secretary, the Acting Chief Justice, and by myself, it was carried by a majority of one.

9.

But I must not conceal from you that if the Official Members who voted for the item had considered themselves free to vote upon the question in accordance with their own opinions, the proposal would have been rejected by a majority of eight to one. These Gentlemen, however, thought that a matter of this kind which had originated with the Secretary of State, and which had been announced by Her Majesty's Government to be "definitively settled" differed from the ordinary cases submitted to the Council for deliberation, before reference home, and they accordingly felt themselves bound to give effect to the decision of the Supreme authority without regard to their own convictions. With a view, however, to prevent the Home Government being misled as to their opinions by their votes.

Enclosure X.5

A resolution was agreed upon...

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