IV.
In reply to Mr. Kony, I have to state that the amendment will be accepted by the Government, I of course have nothing to say on the merits of the amendment. But I wish myself to telegraph direct to the Secretary of State that the unofficial members would not accept His Lordship's proposal and I urged the necessity of postponement until the Retrenchment Committee had furnished their report. I also added what I have already said, that the unofficial members quite admitted that in view of the fall in exchange the time had arrived for an increase of salaries to be made.
I am very glad to inform you that the Secretary of State has concurred in my suggestion and recommendation as to the appointment of a Retrenchment Commission. The names I suggested were—Mr. Justice Ackroyd (Chairman), Mr. Chater, and Mr. J. J. Keswick.
HIS EXCELLENCY—I propose to put the amendment to the vote as I should like the matter to be on record. The hon. Colonial Secretary has, I am sure, interpreted the feelings of the official members in his remarks just now, and the public servants generally will read with a great deal of pleasure the sympathetic remarks which have fallen from the unofficial members. I understand that you unanimously admit that the time has arrived when an increase of salaries paid in silver might properly be made but that you are unwilling to do so until the Retrenchment Commission has been appointed and has reported.
The amendment was then put and carried nem. con., the official members abstaining from voting.
APPOINTMENT OF THE RETRENCHMENT COMMISSION.
His EXCELLENCY—I have been in communication with the senior unofficial member for several days with regard to the matter of an increase in salaries paid in silver, and I also asked that I might be allowed to appoint a prominent outsider and received sanction for the appointment of Mr. N. J. Ede. I trust the Commission will soon be at work and that it will do its work well both to the satisfaction of the Council and of the community generally. On behalf of the Government I may say that I shall give the Commission every possible facility for carrying on their investigation in the way of placing documents and records at their service. I propose to appoint an official secretary, and I think that Mr. Sorcombe Smith will be a very good man in that capacity if he can be spared from the Registrar-General's Department.
DRAFT.
G. J. M. O'Brien
MINUTE.
Mr. S. Martin 5.
Mr. Fairfield.
Mr. Wingfield.
Mr. Bramston.
Mr. Meade. 5
Mr. Buxton.
5 May 94
Marquess of Ripon
Dear Mr. Brin,
8 May Ripon
I have to acknowledge and thank you for your letter of the 28th of March in which you informed me that you have for some time past been responding to a part of your salary to the Treasury.
It appears it is being received under the heading Miscellaneous Revenue. Something was already known in my Department as to the intention to take their advice.