quate increase only be given in its place. I am not aware that there is anything I need say farther in moving the amendment except that I do so on the grounds that the motion of the hon. member is not wide enough in its scope. I would therefore propose, sir, that the following amendment be adopted :- "That in consequence "of the increase to official salaries being greatly "in excess of what was contemplated by the "Committee specially appointed to consider the "subject, and the ever-growing Government es- "tablishments to which the increase would apply, "and in view of the fact that the declining re- "venue of this Colony will not be equal to so great "a strain upon it for the enormous public works "in progress, besides the other impending and "urgent necessities of the Colony and the in- "creased military contribution, it is desirable that the Secretary of State be asked by telegram to withhold his sanction to the proposed increase until the amount can be reconsidered."
Hon. Ho KAI - I have much pleasure in seconding the amendment of the hon. member opposite. I think the wording of the amendment is a great improvement on the wording of the resolution, although they both point to the same end and have the same meaning. I think the hon. member who moved the resolution must see that the amendment has the advantage over the original motion in that it sets forth really and truly the considerations which have influenced us in asking that the increase in the official salaries should be reconsidered. In the able speech of the hon. member who proposed the resolution it was clearly shown that the ground for moving it is not wholly the increased military contribution; in fact, the hon. member touched upon all the vital grounds on which the resolution is based, namely, the shrinking revenue of the Colony, the enormous expenditure on extraordinary public works, and many other things, and I am sure the hon. member will readily agree to the substitution of this amendment for the original resolution. I would also mention in connection with this amendment that it shows that at all events we have considered the question thoroughly and have considered all the grounds upon which the reduction of the increase to salaries has been resolved upon. It also shows we are not actuated by a retaliatory spirit just because the military contribution has been carried against us.
That is not our reason, but it is really on mature consideration of the ways and means of the Colony, of the probable revenue in the future, and of the expenditure.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL - Sir, I am endeavouring to shake off the feeling of intense depression which came over me as Mr. Whitehead drew such a terrible picture of the future of this colony, a picture so different from that drawn some two years ago by His Excellency the Governor. May we not hope that somewhere between the two lies the right amount of darkness to throw over the scene now? Can we believe the colony is in such a terrible condition as the hon. member would have us believe? For my part I take a more hopeful view of the future of this colony. It is certainly an embarrassing position in which the official members, or most of the official members, are placed. It is certainly not a nice thing to have to discuss in public the question whether one's salary should be increased or not. One might be thought to be a biassed party. I have at least one advantage, because my salary is not affected in any way by the recent recommendation of the unofficial members. Therefore I can speak without any personal feeling in this matter. Now I should like to put another view of this case. The resolution which the hon. member proposes states that the increased salaries were recently recommended. I ask, what is the difference between the prospects of this colony at the date when that recommendation was made by the unofficial members and its prospects at the present date? Was it all sunshine and brightness then, was the future so clear before us in those days, and all so dark, so sombre, so now? What has occurred in the meantime? Why, that the unofficial members have been beaten on a vote by a small majority.
Hon. P. RYRIE - No, no.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD also expressed dissent.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL - The unofficial members now say by the resolution - I am speaking of the resolution, not the amendment - "that "in consequence of the enhanced military "contribution" the Colony is not in a position to pay the increased salaries. And the hon. member is very particular that when once a reason is given it should not be departed from. He pinned the Secretary of State down to that one reason which he gave for the enhanced military contribution, and he himself must stick to the reason he has given. The reason beguiles us why the increase should be withheld is in consequence of the enhanced military contribution. If these 1,500 men alluded to some time ago by the hon. member as phantom men, as they did not appear - if these 1,500 men had arrived here would that have made any difference, any material difference, to the revenue of this Colony? Can any hon. member honestly - I don't mean honestly, because we know they are all honest and straightforward - but can they say in their inmost minds that if these 1,500 men had arrived there would have been any objection to paying that enhanced military contribution, and if they had arrived can hon. members say in their inmost minds that the resolution would ever have appeared on paper? It seems to me that the arrival or not of these 1,500 men has nothing to do with the capacity of this Colony to pay a certain sum. It seems to me that recommendation having been so recently made nothing has occurred since to justify us in making such a complete volte face as is desired by the hon. member who moves the resolution.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD - Before replying to the remarks which have been made by the Attorney-General I am desirous, with your permission, that the amendment be substituted for the motion I made.
The PRESIDENT - I don't think you can quite do that, but you can express your approbation of the amendment and naturally your vote will follow the expression of your approbation.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD - Then I would say a few words in reply to the remarks which have been made. It has been stated that I have drawn a terrible picture of the position and condition of this colony. I think there is a very great deal of truth in the remarks which I made, and the future of the colony, on the authority of His Excellency the Governor, is not as rosy as...
His Excellency the Governor pointed out three causes, three most important causes, at work tending to our destruction, and His Excellency plainly stated that we were not yet in a position to determine the outcome of these causes at work. A great many changes, I think, have come over the colony since December. A number of the new companies which were supposed to have a brilliant future before them have since gone into liquidation and there are increased signs of the shrinkage of our revenue. If the 1,500 extra men promised to our garrison had arrived I can honestly say that I would still hold pretty nearly the same view that I do to-day and that I would not have hesitated to give notice of and to move the resolution I have moved to-day. The resolution, I think, is one that is justified by the altered circumstances of the colony.
The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY - Hon. members, as it has already been observed this is at first sight a very delicate question for any official member to express an opinion upon, but by a fortunate combination of circumstances it so happens that the salaries of the hon. official members on my left (the Attorney General and the Auditor General) and the Colonial Treasurer on my right are not in any way affected by this proposed increase. Therefore the votes of these three gentlemen must be taken as perfectly impartial. I will now come to my own case. Taking the rate of exchange as it was yesterday and taking away as the present resolution did the privilege of remitting part of my salary at 4s. 2d., I find that the net gain to me by the increase of salaries will be some $300 per year. I do not think that $300 a year is a sum that will be considered to bias my opinion one way or the other. There only remains one member of Council who might possibly be affected (the Registrar-General), but as hon. members have already reduced his proposed salary from what was recommended by the Secretary of State to what they recommend now as a fair salary I also think his vote may be considered as fairly impartial. Now, gentlemen, turning to the question of the amendment, I find that the hon. member who proposed it states that it was the intention of the Committee to recommend an increase of 10 per cent. all round. I am afraid the hon. member has not refreshed his memory by looking at what he signed.
Hon. J. J. KESWICK - I said an increase of $10,000.
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quate increase only be given in its place. I am not aware that there is anything I need say farther in moving the amendment except that I do so on the grounds that the motion of the hou. member is not wide enough in its scope. I would therefore propose, sir, that the following amendment be adopted :-" That in consequence "of the increase to official salaries being greatly "in excess of what was contemplated by the "Committee specially appointed to consider the "subject, and the ever-growing Government es- "tabishments to which the increase would apply, "and in view of the fact that the declining re- "venue of this Colony will not be equal to so great "a strain upon it for the enormons public works) "in progress, besides the other impending and "urgent necessities of the Colony and the in- | "creased military contribution, it is desirable that the Secretary of Stats be asked by tele- to withhold his sanction to the proposad gram “Inoresso until the amount can be reconsidered.” Hon. Ho KAI-I have much pleasure in se- oonding the amendment of the hon. member opposite. I think the wording of the amendment is a great improvement on the wording of the resolution, although they both point to the same end and have the same meaning. I think the han. member who moved the resolution must see that the amendment has the advantage over the original motion in that it sets forth really and truly the considerations which have influ- enced us in asking that the increase in the off. cial salaries should be reconsidered. In the able speech of the hon. member who proposed the resolution it was clearly shown that the ground for moving it is not wholly the increased wili- tary contribution; in fact, the hon. member touched upon all the vital grounds on which the resolution is based, namely, the shrinking revenue of the Colony, the enormous expendi ture on extraordinary public works, and many other things, and I am sure the hon. ber will readily agree to the substitution of this amendment for the original resolu tion, I would also mention in connection with this amendment that it shows that at all events we have considered the question thoroughly and have considered all the grounds upon which the reduction is the increase to salaries has been re- solved upon. It also shows we are not actuated by a retaliatory spirit just because the military contribution has been carried against us.
Yuem-
That
is not our reason, but it is really on mature con- sideration of the ways and means of the Colony, of the probable revenue in the future, and of the expenditare.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL-Sir, I am en- deavouring to shake off the feeling of intense dopression which came over me as Mr. White- head drew such a terrible pieturo of the future of this colony, a picture so different from that drawn some two years ago by His Excellency the Governor. May we not hope that some- where between the two lies the right amount of darkness to throw over the soone now? Can we believe the colony is in such a terrible condition as the hon. member would have ns beliore? For my part I take a more hopeful view of the future of this colony. It is certainly an embarrassing position in which the official members, or most of the official members, are placed. It is certainly not a nice thing to have to discuss in public the question whether one's salary should be increased or not. One might be thought to be a biassed party. I have at least one advant- age, because my salary is not affected in any way by the recent recommendation of the un- official members. Therefore I can speak with- out any personal feeling in this matter. Now I should like to put another view of this case. The resolution which the hon. momber proposes states that the increased salaries were recently recommended. I ask, what is the difference bo- tween the prospects of this colony at the date when that recommendation was made by the un- official members and its prospects at the present date? Was it all sunshine and brightness then, was the future so clear before us in those days. and all so dark, so sombre, so and now? What has occurred in the meantima? Why, that the unofficial members have been beaten ou a vote by a small majority.
Hon. P. RYRIE-No, no.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD also expressed dissent.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL-The unofficial members now say by the resolation-I am speak. ing of the resolution, not the amendment-"that "in consequence of the enhanced military "contribution" the Colony is not in a position to pay the increased salaries. And the hon. mem-
ber
ber is very partionlar that when once a reason is given it should not be departed from. He pinned the Secretary of State down to that one reason which he gave for the enhanced military contribu tion, and he himself must stick to the reason be has given. The reason begives us why the increase should be withheld is in consequence of the en- hanced military contribution. If these 1,500 men alluded to some time ago by the hon. member as phantom men, as they did not appear-if these 1,500 men had arrived here would that have made any difference, any material difference, to the revenge of this Colony Can any hon. member honestly I don't mean honestly, because we know they are all honest and straightforward-- but can they say in their inmost winds that if these 1,500 men had arrived there would have boon any objection to paying that enhanced military contribution, and if they had arrived can hon. members say in their inmost minds this the resolution would ever have appeared on paper? It seems to me that the arrival or not of these 1,500 men has nothing to do with the capacity of this Colony to pay a certain sum. It seems to me that recommendation having been so recently made nothing has occurred since to justify ne in making such a complete volte face as is desired by the hon. member who moves the resolution.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-Before replying to the remarks which have been made by the Attorney-General I am desirous, with your par- mission, that the amendment be substituted for the motion I made.
The PRESIDENT-I don't think you can quite do that, but you can express your approbation of the amendment and naturally your vote will follow the expression of your approbation.
Fon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-Then I would say a few words in reply to the remarks which have been made. It has been stated that I have drawn a terrible picture of the position and con- dition of this colony. I think there is a very great deal of truth in the remarks which I made, and the future of the colony, on the authority of His Excellency the Governor, is not as !sarod.
His Excellency the Governor point- ed out three canses, three most importaut causes, at work tending to our destruotion, and His Excellency plainly stated that we were not yet in a position to determine the outcome of these canses at work. A great many changes, I think, havo come over the colony since Decem- ber. A number of the new companies which were supposed to have a brilliant fature before them have since gone into liquidation and there are increased signs of the shrinkage of our re- venne. If the 1,500 extra men promised to our garrison had arrived I can honestly say that I would still hold pretty nearly the same view that I do to-day and that I would not have hesitated to give notice of and to move the ro solution I have moved to-day. The resolution, I think, is one that is justified by the altered circumstances of the colony.
The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY-Hon. membors, as it has already been observed this is at first sight a very delicate question for any official member to express an opinion upon, but by a fortunate combination of circumstances it so happens that the salaries of the hon. official members on my left (the Attorney General and the Auresvor General) and the Dulquial Troja sarer on my right are not in any way af- feated by this proposed increase. Therefors the votes of these three gentlemen must be taken a perfectly impartial. I will now com to my own case. Taking the rate of exchange as it was yesterday and taking away as the resent resolution did the privilege of remitting part of my salary at 4s. 23., I find that the net gain to me by the increase of salaries will be some $300 per year. I do not think that $300 a year te a sam that will be considered to hlas my opinion one way or the other. There only re mains one member of Council who might possibly be affected (the Registrar-General), but as hon. members have already reduced his proped salary from what was recommended by the Secretary of State to what they recommend now as a fair salary I also think his vote may be considered as fairly impartial. Now, gentlemen, turning to the question of the amendment, I find that the bon. member who proposed it states that it was the intention of the Committee to recommend an increase of 10 per cont. all round. I am afraid the hon. mem- ber has not refreshed his memory by looking at what he signed.
Hon. J. J. KESWICK-I said an increase of $10,000.
The
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