LILL
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference -
C.O. 885/
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON:
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
26
every year, or every second or third year, under suitable regulations, I believe that an excellent system might be established which would work well, would draw closer the bonds of union, and be much to the substantial advantage both of the mother country and the Colonies.
4. I would respectfully suggest that any scheme for military arrangements of this kindi, to be of much use, must be of general application; and for this reason must emanate from the Imperial Government, even though the War Office and Admiralty may be cordially ready to consider and accept, if possible, any modification proposed by the Colonial Governments. The jealousies prevailing between these communities is so great as to prevent any local lead from being effectively taken by any one, and to prevent others from following any lead which it is attempted to take. It is only the Imperial Government which can hope to act with any vigour and success as a common friend in bringing about an understanding for the general good.
SIR,
The Right Hon. the Secretary of State
for the Colonies.
Enclosure in No. 11.
I have, &c., (Signed) A. MUSGRAVE.
Colonial Secretary's Office, Brisbane,
December 30, 1885.
THE attention of the Government has been lately drawn to the subject of the conditions under which officers of Her Majesty's naval and military forces are allowed to take service in the Australian Colonies, and Mr. Service, the Premier of Victoria, has forwarded to me a memorandum* from the Minister of Defence of that Colony (of which I enclose a copy for your Excellency's information), pointing out that under the regulations of the Adiniralty and War Offices-
(1.) A naval officer on half-pay, if employed in Colonial service, loses his promotion
for the time, but receives his half-pay;
(2.) A military officer on the active list, seconded for Colonial service, forfeits his pay
but receives his promotion;
(3.) A naval officer on the retired list in some cases receives his retired pay; (4.) A military officer on the retired list forfeits his retired
pay;
but that there are some exceptions and qualifications to these rules.
I have referred Colonel Sargood's memorandum to Colonel G. A. French, Commandant of the land branch of the Queensland Defence Force, and to Captain H. Townley Wright, R.N., senior naval officer of the naval branch, and enclose copies of their reports on the subject for your Excellency's information.
I have also received from Colonel French a remonstrance from Sergeant-Major Lewis (late R.E.) with respect to the proposed reduction of the amount of his pension on account of his having entered the Defence Force of this Colony, which, with Colonel French's report thereon, I also enclose.
I am strongly of opinion that, for many obvious reasons, it is highly expedient to encourage the employment of experienced officers and men of Her Majesty's naval and military forces in the local forces of the Colonies. I need not refer at length to the recent legislation in this Colony, with which your Excellency is familiar, or to the efforts which were lately made-not, I think, without success-to provide for the defence of the Colony in the then not improbable contingency of war with a European power; and I feel assured that Her Majesty's Government will willingly give the Colonies such aid as may reasonably be given in this matter without imposing any extra
burden upon the Imperial Treasury.
To Colonel Sargood's arguments I only desire to add that I conceive that in order to keep up the efficiency of the Colonial forces, it will be found necessary to provide for a regular succession of naval and military officers, detached or seconded from Her Majesty's forces for temporary service; and from this point of view it would be evidently desirable that officers so appointed should not be placed under disadvantage in point of pay or promotion.
Ilis Excellency
Sir Anthony Musgrave, G.C.M.G.,
&c.
+
&c.
Governor.
&c.
I have, &c.,
(Signed)
S. W. GRIFFITH.
any
SIR,
27
Office of the Senior Naval Officer, Brisbane, October 23, 1885.
REFERRING to enclosed correspondence, I have the honour to report as follows:- That the question is an important one, both to the Imperial Government and the Colonics, there can be no doubt. I think the remarks of the Honourable the Minister of Defence (Victoria) are in the main correct.
Naval officers on the active list (half-pay) are liable to suffer pecuniary loss when serving in the Colonies, and I believe there is no regulation by which they can claim to draw their half-pay. When an officer accepts such an appointment (with the sanctiou of the Admiralty) he has to write requesting to be allowed to continue to draw his half-pay, stating the salary of the office he has accepted; this application is forwarded to the Treasury, and I believe the rule is, that if the salary of the applicant is more than three times the amount of the officer's half-pay, the difference is deducted from the latter, or the sum of the salary and half-pay is not to exceed four times the amount of the half-pay.
In my own case Admiral Sir Cooper Key told me that I should be allowed the same privilege, as in the case of other naval officers serving in the Colonies, who, I believe, draw the full amount of their half-pay; but the fact remains that though I have held this appointment for the best part of a year, the question, when I last heard from my agent in England, was not settled.
I was not aware that there were cases of naval officers on the retired list who were not allowed to draw their pension when similarly employed.
I think that the greatest inducement for officers on the active list to serve the Colonies would be, to allow the time when so employed to count as two-thirds sca time. I am of opinion that many officers would then be willing to accept such appoint- ments, as their promotion would not then be materially interfered with. I perfectly agree with the remarks in paragraph 8, and the want of officers would have been. very keenly felt had a war succeeded the recent scare.
If the doubt about having the retired pay were entirely removed, the advantage of retired officers settling in the Colonies would be considerably increased; but I would further remark, that seeing the necessity of having such officers in time of war, the Government of Colonies should hold out further inducements by offering them suitable appointments under Government conditionally on their becoming officers of the marine force.
There are many officers retired compulsorily who would accept appointments with small salaries,, and give their services in case of war.
I believe that the recent action taken by the Queensland Government in placing the Queensland ships under the Imperial cominander-in-chief will have a beneficial effect in procuring officers.
I have, &c., (Signed)
The Hon. the Colonial Secretary.
MEMORANDUM.
H. TOWNLEY WRIGHT, Senior Naval Officer, Q.D.F.
Head Quarters, Q.D.F., October 14, 1885.
I beg to submit the following remarks on the annexed memorandum. (2.) This I believe to be correct,
(3.) (6.) Correct.
(d.) I believe this has recently been enforced.
(5.) Correct. This usually involves supersession by junior officers, and is specially hard on senior officers employed in the Colonies.*
(6.) Correct.
(7.) (8), (9), (10), (11).
(12.) I would advise a strong representation being made on the subject of non- commissioned officers as well as officers.
(Signed) G. A. FRENCH,
Colonel Commandant.
To palliate this supersession to some extent, the Imperial Government might be asked to convert the local rank (given to commandants) into brevet rank after they have held the position for four years; this would cost nothing. Proposed memorandum herewith.
G.A.F.
• Enclosure in No. 2.
D 2