1931
The 224
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
April 16th, 1874.
SALARY OF THE CROWN SOLICITOR.
HIS EXCELLENCY said there was another matter which he bad to bring forward, and regarding which he would endeavour to be as short as possible. Many members would re- member that before he came to the Colony a proposition had been made to increase the Salary of the Crown Solicitor. The matter-was discussed in Council and was afterwards sub. mitted to the Secretary of State, the result of which was that he sent out a despatch upon the subject dated the 15th June, 1872, which H. E. the Governor had received, and in which, the Secretary expressed his approval of the in orease in Salary which was proposed, and adding that if with the incoming estimates H. E should propose to the Council an increase of salary, he had no objection to that course, This despatch was received on the Sud August, 1872, and at that time Mr. Sharp was absent from the Colony, and according to what he (H.F.) beard, was in such a precarious state of health that his re urn to the Colony was im. probable. Under these circumstances, be bad simply endorsed a memo, on the despatch that be saw no reason to take further action in the matter; and the question thus rested until the 11th of the present month, when a letter was i received from Mr. Sharp again applying for an increase of salary (letter readi. H. E. bad, therefore, thought it right to bring the matter again before the Council.
Hon. Mr. RowETT said that when the vote was put to the Council the members were not properly informed with regard to it, and from what they since knew, they would be disposed to vote in favor of it. He knew that the duties bad of late greatly increased, and had no donkt the Council would have been in favour of the increased salary had they been properly in- formed of the circumstances at the time.
Hon. P. RYRIE said there was another reason which influenced the members, namely, an idea that being Crown Solicitor wonid in- crease Mr. Sharp's own business, but be had since been informed that such was not the case, but, on the contrary, it took up a great deal of his time from other business, He would have been inclined to vote in favour of the increase bad that circumstance been fully explained.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY said that the Committee appointed in 1866 to investigate the estimates recommended an increase in the Salary of the Crown Solicitor.
lion. R. ROWETT asked whether as the con- trary vote had been passed under a mis-appre- hension as to the circumstances of the case might it not be possible to give the salary as from the time when the Secretary of State stated it would be desirable that the salary should be increased. He bad suffered from the Council being under a false impression, and is was, therefore, only fair to made the matter up to him in that way.
H.E. the GoVERNOR said it would be better to leave the details to the Secretary of State, and that at present they should simply enter npon the minutes of the Council the opinion that the increase sanctioned by the Secretary of State in his despatch should be placed upon the supplementary estimates of this year. Hon. W. H. ALEXANDER observed that there was one point to be taken into consideration, and that was that Mr. Sharp had paid the fall amount of his salary to his partner to get the work done.
N. E, the GoVERNOR expresed his opinion that it would be better to leave such points for
subsequent consideration if necessary, and the subject then dropped.
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