CO129-016 - Sir John Davis - 1846 [1-6] — Page 181

that year.

for that.

It will appear that the

whole of that amount was not called for.

In the mean while I may state specifically with reference to the office of Treasures, that the expenses of that Department in Clerks have been much

reduced by Mr. Mercer, who unlike his

bby. predecessor, employs his own time that of his Assistants exclusively in the duties of his Office, instead of bringing the Colonial accounts into arrear, and increasing the public expenditure, by employing himself and them on matters with which he has no official

When the Colony has passed the period of its first establishment, much. of the public business will be abridged methodised so as to admit of a curtailment of the Public Expenditure, at the same time that the Revenue may fairly be expected

concern.

178

expected to increase on the other hand. As regards the particular office of Treasurer, although its charges may be diminished, its consolidation with that of Colonial Secretary

tof is not the mode I would recommend with

that view, because, in the first place, his

increased. Collector of revenues

duties

are

as a

and, secondly, because the charge of the

Consular Accounts devolves on him, in

addition to the Colonial.

In this climate and position,

(

the tenancy of Office differs greatly as to permanency in comparison with the Home and indeed many other Colonial establishments, and it appears to myself that with the secession of.

occupants of Office,

some

of the present

some diminution in

the scale of Salary would still obtain efficient. - services. As Mr. Mercer has, after "nine months experience, proved himself

deserving