i
}
were!
334
required to devote much time to drafting Bills for the Government.
4.
At the same time I recognised that I was put-
-ting upon him a very laborious task, and I indicated in a minute of the 16th. of July (copy enclosed) that I should be prepared to recommend to you that an honorarium of acout £100 should be paid
to him for the work.
The minute in which I made this sugestion was
'seen by r. Alabaster, who replied in a minute (copy enclosed) upon which I commented under date of the 16th. of July that "I would consider when the work is completed what recognition should be made. This minute was addressed to the Colonial Secretary and was not sent to r. Alabaster. It was my intention, as indicated in the last paragraph of my Despatch under reference, to recomend to you what form the reco¿nition might appropriately take.
5.
On the arrival of Mr. Bucknill to take up the substantive post of Attorney-General on the 12th. August last, I did not, in view of Er. Alabaster's minute of the 16th. of July, take the work of scrutiny and revision out of his hands and place it in those of the Attorney-General. In this I was to blame but I thought that ir. Alabaster was well content to complete the work and that it was well understood that his work would be recognised generally after the manner indicated in my minute of löth. July,
1912.
6.
The work has, however, turned out to be much
more laborious than anticipated, and I have learned that Mr. Alabester is no longer satisfied with the form of recognition pro- -posed by ine. It appears that he expected that he would be recommended for a King's Counselship, or other distinction. I have explained to him that recommendations for a King's Counselship
do not emanate from the Government, and that such an honour or other distinction is not conferred in return for specific services
rendered.
7.
I have already directed that Lr. Alabaster's name shall appear on the title page of the new edition as the author of it. I am ready when the edition is laid before the