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from private correspondence are as follows:- Mr. J. K. Innes an officer of the cadet service who has been for the past year acting as Attorney-General Straits Settlements is not available for other work until the middle of March when the new Attorney-General takes up his duties. If the pressure of work in the Courts is so great that Mr. Innes is required to act as Puisne Judge without further delay it might be necessary to find a practising barrister to act temporarily as Attorney-General and he would not be likely to do this for less than the full salary of the post. But Mr. Smith's four months full pay leave from Hong-Kong will carry him on into May and by that time Mr. Innes will be available to act as Puisne Judge and will be drawing salary under C. U. rule 107.
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I submit then that there is no reason whatsoever why Mr. Smith's half-pay leave should be charged to this Colony but that every local precedent points to its falling on the Straits.
I have the less hesitation in urging to the best of my power my own views as to the equities of the case for if the course I suggest be adopted Mr. Smith will be no loser. His half salary will be more as Puisne Judge Straits Settlements than as First Magistrate Hongkong. I understand that the ruling as to Mr. Smith's leave pay proceeded from the Secretary of State. I would however respectfully submit that all communication up to the present has been by cable and that very possibly that ruling might have been different had the whole circumstances of the case been present to the mind of Lord Salisbury.
I venture to hope that His Excellency will consider the question I have endeavoured to raise of sufficient importance to the officers of the Hongkong service to induce him to bring it favourably before the Secretary of State.
I have etc.,
(sd.) M. M. J. Gompertz.