No injustice can be done by a delay in payment now and in a reconsideration of the whole question, for as the increases have never yet been definitely sanctioned, no man has a right to calculate on it. It would be a very grave injustice to the officials if a man were to know from year to year how to adjust his expenditure based on uncertain increases. Breach of contract there is none whatever, and cannot be, as your Excellency, being a lawyer, very well knows.
The unofficial members are by no means opposed to an increase of salaries to such an extent as is right and proper and called for by the increased cost of living and as far as the colony's finances will permit. However, they feel strongly that, granted that they signed a report recommending an increase, it was a mistake to make the increase equivalent to 35 per cent. in many instances. One of the unofficial members indeed objected to so large an increase in December last when there was still time, without inconvenience, to have the whole subject investigated.
The unofficial members will be very glad to hear your Excellency's reasons in Council and, if possible, to be convinced by them. But they must insist upon your Excellency, before any increased salaries are paid this year, submitting to the Secretary of State their arguments, still unanswered, as well as your reasons, and obtaining his final decision. It is their right as your Excellency's advisers on financial matters, and your sole advisers in a question so nearly affecting the official members.
They did, unfortunately, towards the end of last year, vote these salaries without having before them any definite or intelligible statement of the financial position of the Colony. But there is still an opportunity open to them to reconsider the matter, so long as the proposed increases are waiting sanction.
No harm to anyone can follow the proposed delay, as if finally the judgment of the Secretary of State is adverse to the views of the unofficial members, the officers will get their full salaries from the beginning of the year.
In conclusion, the unofficial members submit for your Excellency's consideration whether the Acting Colonial Secretary is the proper channel of communication between your Excellency and the unofficial members of your Council.
We have the honour to be, Sir, your Excellency's most obedient and humble servants,
(Signed) P. RYRIE.
J. J. KESWICK.
HO KAI
T. H. WHITEHEAD.
Hongkong, 27th April, 1891.
His Excellency the Governor.
SIR,
On the afternoon of Saturday, the 25th instant, I was favoured with a letter from the Acting Colonial Secretary enquiring whether his communication dated 15th instant had been received by me. I desire to inform Your Excellency that the despatch in question never reached my hands. It appears to have been left at my office in my absence and to have been mislaid.
Neither my colleagues nor myself were aware of the existence of that letter when ours of the 24th instant was prepared and sent in.
I very much regret, and so do my colleagues, that such an accident should have happened, and that an impression should have been left on the public mind that Your Excellency had not even acknowledged the receipt of our first letter. This mistake will at once be corrected by the publication of this letter, but the unofficial members have still to express their regret that Your Excellency's reply to the latter of the 14th, as distinguished from its acknowledgment, was so long delayed.
I have the honour to be, Sir, Your Excellency's most obedient and humble servant,
(Signed) P. RYRIE.
No
be a very grave injustice to the officials. man would know from year to year how to adjust his expenditure. No injustice can be done by a delay in payment now and in a reconsideration of the whole question, for as the increases bave never yet been definitely sanctioned no man has a right to calculate on it. Breach of contract there is none whatever, and cannot be, as your Excellency being a lawyer very well knows. The unofficial members are by no moans opposed to an increase of salaries to sach an extent as is right and proper and called for by the increased cost of living and as far as the colony's finances will permit, but they feel strongly that, granted that they signed a report roommending an increase it was a mistake to make the increase equivalent to 35 per cent. in many instances. One of the unofficial members indeed objected to so large au increase in December last when there was still time without inconvenience to have the whole subject investigated.
The unofficial menthers will be very glad to bear your Excelleney's reasons in Council and if possible to be convinced by them, but they must insist upon your Excellency, before any increased salaries are paid this year, submitting to the Secretary of State their arguments, still unanswered, as well as your reasons, and obtain- ing his final decision. It is their right as your Excellency's advisers on financial matters, and your sole advisers in a question so uearly affect- ing the official members. They did unfortunately towards the end of last year vote these salaries, without having before them any definite or in- telligible statement of the financial position of the Colony, but there is still an opportunity open to them to reconsider the matter, so long as the proposed increases are waiting sanction.
No barm to any one eau follow the proposed delay, as if finally the judgmont of the Secre tary of State is adverse to the views of the ua- officials the officers will get their full salaries from the beginning of the year.
In couelusion the unofficial members submit for your Excellency's consideration if the Act- ing Colonial Scoretary is the proper channel of communication between your Excellency and the naofficial members of your Council.
We have the honour to he, Sir, your Excel- leney's most obedient and humble servants,
(Signed) P. RYRIE.
J. J. KeswiCK. Ho Kai
T. H. WHITEHEAD.
Hongkong, 27th April, 1891.
His Excellency the Governor.
SIR,On the afternoon of Saturday the 25th instant I was favoured with a letter from the Acting Colonial Secretary enquiring whether his communication dated 15th instant had been
received by me. I desire to inform Your Excel- lenoy that the despatch in question never reached my hands. It appears to have been left at my office in my absence, and to have been mislaid.
Neither my colleagues nor myself were aware of the existence of that letter when ours of the 24th instant was prepared and sent in.
#
I very much regret and so do my colleagues : that such an accident should have happened, and that an impression should have been left on the public mind that Your Excellency had not even acknowledged the reo ipt of our first letter. This mistake will at once be corrected by the publication of this letter, but the anoth- cial ineinbers have still to express their regret that Your Excellency's reply to the latter of the 14th as distinguished from its acknowledge- ment, was so long delayed. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your Excellency's most obedient and humble servant,
(Signed) P. RYRIE.
587
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.