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expect the payment of the salaries that have been assigned to them. I have never questioned the right of the unofficial members to move reductions of salaries - what I do question and most emphatically deny is that they have made out a fair case in support of their motion. My view on this head is clearly stated in the subjoined extract from the Colonial Secretary's speech in Committee on Supply on the 8th.
The side of the unofficials is that the financial condition of the colony requires that the salaries should be reduced, and they contend that they have a right to move such reduction. In support of their contention they quote the dictum of a previous Governor - it is quite unnecessary, their right being inherent and not requiring any such support. Your Excellency's predecessor pointed out that, as there was no longer a fixed Establishment Ordinance in the Colony, the unofficial members would annually have an opportunity of moving the reduction of salaries whenever they thought that such reduction was called for by circumstances. That opportunity has now come round, and they have availed themselves of it. They have a perfect right to do so - nay more, it is their bounden duty to do so if circumstances demand it; the only question for them to consider is whether circumstances do demand it. As to that, let us examine a little.
Paragraph 6 asks the question whether there is now any justification for the present endeavour to reduce the increased salaries to the 1890 level and its sub-sections (a) to (k) contain the reasons which apparently have induced the Memorialists.
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