Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Seymour, Frederick to Leveson-Gower, Granville George 3 March 1869, CO 60:33, no. 4630, 105.
Abstract
Seymour, Frederick to Leveson-Gower, Granville George 3 March 1869, CO 60:33, no. 4630, 105.
Despatch to London.
Minutes (2), Enclosures (untranscribed) (1), Other documents (2), Marginalia (1).
No. 25
3rd March 1869
My Lord,
I have the honor to forward to Your Lordship Copy of a letter
addressed to me by the Attorney General, relating to the
proceedings which tookplace
place in the Legislative Council on a
motion made by the Senior Member for the City of Victoria to
obtain the reduction of the Salaries of those Officers
guaranteed by "The Crown Officers Salaries Act 1863."
place in the Legislative Council on a
motion made by the Senior Member for the City of Victoria to
obtain the reduction of the Salaries of those Officers
guaranteed by "The Crown Officers Salaries Act 1863."
2. As, in the late Session, so in this, I directed the Officers
whose Salaries were under consideration to withdraw from the
Legislative Hall,until
until the matter should have been disposed of,
one way or the other. Now, as in 1868, the Resolutions in favor
of reduction were thrown out, in their absence.
until the matter should have been disposed of,
one way or the other. Now, as in 1868, the Resolutions in favor
of reduction were thrown out, in their absence.
3. I have more than once expressed the opinion that the
Governor's Salary is somewhat high for the Colony to pay during
its present financial depression. But it is certainly nottoo
too
high to cover the expenses of the Office I hold, nor to repay
the very arduous and responsible duties attached to it.
too
high to cover the expenses of the Office I hold, nor to repay
the very arduous and responsible duties attached to it.
4. Even in the early days of the Colony, when its Revenue was
comparatively small and the social expenditure of the Public
Officers moderate, Sir James Douglas recommended that the Salary
attachedto
to his office should not be less than five thousand
pounds a year.
to his office should not be less than five thousand
pounds a year.
Minutes by CO staff
Sir F. Sandford
The Council upheld vested interests, & threw out Motions for reducing the Civil List Officers Salaries—none of the Officers whose Salaries were affected voting.
The Council upheld vested interests, & threw out Motions for reducing the Civil List Officers Salaries—none of the Officers whose Salaries were affected voting.
CC
26/4
As the question will probably come up again—I sd
acknowledge this despatch—but send a confidential despatch to
the Governor asking him to consider carefully and report,
as to the propriety either of abolishing, or of reducing the
Salaries of
future holders of the offices in question (in case the proposal
sd hereafter be carried in the Assembly.
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
H.P.P. Crease, Attorney General, to Seymour, 11 February 1869,
stating his concerns respecting the motion to repeal the Crown
Salaries Act.
