As the matter stands, Mr. Thomsett is, I conceive, legally entitled to the Fees prescribed in Article XI of the Regulations attached to Secretary of State's despatch No. 8 of 18th July 1871, subject to his instruction.
The Governor objects (1) to so large a share of Mr. Thomsett's salary being derived from Fees, and (2) to the principle of having Public Money paid out by Fees on both fronts. The first objection could be met by reducing the amount of the Fees. As regards this second, if Mr. Thomsett's Salary is inadequate, it should be raised, and should be paid by Government rather than by Fees.
But there is not sufficient ground shown for raising the Salary at present. It was fixed after the nature of the Registration Office duties under the Chinese Passengers Act of 1855 was well known (Mr. Thomsett's appointment was in 1861); and I am not aware that those duties are materially, if at all, increased by the Ordinance No. 4 of 1871.
Whether the existing Fees are in themselves disproportionately high can best be determined by the Local Authorities. There would be no reason to suspect unfair charges merely to keep down official emoluments.
On the whole, perhaps the best course would be to pass a short Ordinance, alter Article XI of the Regulations, and subjecting the Emigration Officer's Certificate, and the Certificate itself, to a reasonable stamp duty - which would go some way to...
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