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and that he should be compensated for the absence of promotion to better-paid appointments, whether acting or permanent, by periodical increases of his salary. There could be no objection to the Officer filling the office of Post Master General being kept permanently to that post, provided the emoluments of the office are made equal, at least, to those of the office of Magistrate, which post I have filled for more than five years in this Colony. I believe the Post Office and the Colony would greatly benefit by such an arrangement; but as things are, the proposal to deprive me of all acting appointments for five years has a very invidious appearance, and largely diminishes the value of the appointment. In the first place, it is a restriction hitherto only imposed on officers by way of punishment for past misconduct, and if I am during the next five years repeatedly passed over for acting appointments that would otherwise come to me, it will be believed that I am in disgrace or ineligible, and I will suffer very considerably in pocket, and more, in having juniors promoted over my head to important appointments.
5. During the last eight years in this Colony, I have held acting appointments of a superior grade to my own (and recent appointment). During the last five years, I have received pay whilst drawing half salary of a subordinate, and only...