That consideration is a question, I conceive, for the convenience of the Imperial Government whether that object is right to be attained, at their cost, by detaching officers entirely from the special ties they have to perform, whilst in the receipt of Imperial pay; whether they should be the instruments of reducing the cost before being compensated for equivalent civil professional services.
With reference to Works, architects in private practice are allowed the privilege of holding appointments and receiving emoluments from the Imperial Government; and, from their number, they monopolize a great part of the professional engagements incident to the requirements of this Colony. I have witnessed, in the obligatory retirement of a young architect of good abilities, the result of this practice. He was backed by his brother, a long resident in England, although not known for his own merits.
High-ranking officers at the Bar have been independent of their attention being, in some measure, alienated from their proper duties. The effect of this privilege has been that, in several instances lately, by the success attending their private practice, they have been enabled to amass great fortunes, which, in consequence, have been thrown upon the Imperial Government to replace the income they had relinquished on their appointments: the innovation I refer to must have crept into the Department since I had the honour of serving under Sir Frederic Rogers, when, under General [name], no such privilege was allowed, which I know is highly disapproved of by Engineer officers at home.
I observe that the Colonial Government have lately prohibited the Surveyor General and Assistant Surveyor General from private practice.