CO129-329 - Governor Nathan - 1905 [7-12] — Page 423

ure 8.

420

3.

I also enclose copies of "Hansard"

containing reports of the Meetings of the Legislative

Council held on the 7th., 21st., and 28th. September, at

which the Estimates were discussed. On the first of these

dates, I introduced them with an explanation of the pro-

-bable financial position on the 31st. December, 1905, of

the Estimates of Revenue for the year 1906, of the Estimates

of Expenditure for the same year, and of the financial

position which will result if those Estimates are realized.

On the 21st. the Government proposals were criticized in

able speeches by two of the Unofficial Members to which I

replied, and the Appropriation Bill was read a second time.

On the 28th. it was read a third time and passed unanimous-

-ly after I had given an assurance that a unanimous vote

would not be taken to commit Members to the principle of

the transfer to the Government of the Widows and Orphans'

Pension Fund with regard to which transfer they would have

ample opportunity of putting forward their views when the

Bill providing for it was before the Council. I had intend-

-ed that this Bill should be passed before provision was

made in the Estimates for the financial arrangements which

it involved, but after it had been drafted I was informed

that Members of the Civil Service desired to make a repre- -sentation