Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Public Offices document
Hamilton, George Alexander to Rogers, Frederic 20 May 1861, CO 60:12, no. 4046, 213.
Abstract
Public Offices document.
Minutes (2).
Hamilton writes Rogers, on behalf of the Treasury, to inform
Newcastle that the Treasury approves
the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for British Columbia for the year 1861,but wants to know more about the circumstances surrounding the proposed £500 salary increase for the Colonial Secretary. The minutes show that the Colonial Office staff share the Treasury's concerns.
Hamilton to Rogers (Permanent Under-Secretary)
Treasury Chambers
20 May 1861
I am directed by the Lords Commissioners of Her Majestys
Treasury to acquaint you for the information of the Duke of
Newcastle with reference to your letter of the 7 Inst that
Their Lordships see no objection to the Estimates of Revenue
and Expenditure for British Columbia for the year 1861.
They will not object to the increases to the Salaries of
the Civil Officers as shown in the Table enclosed in your
letter but They wish to be informed whether theColonial
Colonial Secretary
besides having his salary increased from £500 to £800 will
receive pay for the first time for acting as Auditor as My Lords
would consider that if he has hitherto discharged the duties of
both Offices for a Salary of £500 it was not necessary that he
should receive the double advantage of a new separate pay of £200
as Auditor and of the additional Salary of £300 for his office
of Secretary.
Colonial Secretary
besides having his salary increased from £500 to £800 will
receive pay for the first time for acting as Auditor as My Lords
would consider that if he has hitherto discharged the duties of
both Offices for a Salary of £500 it was not necessary that he
should receive the double advantage of a new separate pay of £200
as Auditor and of the additional Salary of £300 for his office
of Secretary.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Elliot
In a desph to Govr Douglas dated the 3 March/59 the S. of S. expressed his opinion that the Colonial Secy & the Auditor of B. Columbia might be combined in one person.
In a desph to Govr Douglas dated the 3 March/59 the S. of S. expressed his opinion that the Colonial Secy & the Auditor of B. Columbia might be combined in one person.
We have hitherto had no reason to doubt the practicability
of this combination, which we suppose to have taken effect.
I quite agree with the Treasury. If Mr Young has done
both duties for £500 a year he can equally perform them for £800.
I should advise the sanctioning these Estimates of Revenue
and Expre for /61 subject to the deduction of the £200 per ann:
set apart by the Govr for the Acting Auditor.
ABd
23 May/61
I agree with Mr Blackwood. In fact the proposal to give
the Colonial Secretary the double benefit appears so strange that it
was some time before I could think that it was meant. I think that
the general projects about salaries may be approved, but that then
it should be pointed out that the Colonial Secretary has hitherto
discharged the combined duties of his Office and that of Auditor for a
salary of £500, and that he ought now to perform the same for the
Col. Secretary's increased salary of £800, and that H.M. Govt
cannot approve of assigning to him, over and above the increase of
his salary, an acting allowance of £200 per annum as auditor.