Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Kennedy, Arthur to Cardwell, Edward 3 September 1866, CO 305:29, no. 10227, 228.
Abstract
Kennedy, Arthur to Cardwell, Edward 3 September 1866, CO 305:29, no. 10227, 228.
Despatch to London.
Minutes (3), Enclosures (untranscribed) (8), Other documents (1), Marginalia (1).
No. 69, Financial
3rd September 1866
Sir,
1. I have the honor to submit for your information the documents
named in the margin
having reference to proposed supplementary votes to cover Expenditure
for 1865.
2. You will observe that on 22nd June 1866 I intimated to the
Assembly my readiness to afford any further information on the subject
which theymight
might require. You will also observe that on the 31st
August 1866 (being more than two months afterwards and their last day
of sitting) the Assembly by a Resolution which reached me on Saturday
1st September 1866 (the day before the expiry of the Assembly by
efflux of time) declined to grant a Supplementary Supply because the
"Executive has refused to allow this House to examine the accounts of
the public Expenditure for the year 1865."
might require. You will also observe that on the 31st
August 1866 (being more than two months afterwards and their last day
of sitting) the Assembly by a Resolution which reached me on Saturday
1st September 1866 (the day before the expiry of the Assembly by
efflux of time) declined to grant a Supplementary Supply because the
"Executive has refused to allow this House to examine the accounts of
the public Expenditure for the year 1865."
3. As this statement might leadto
to the conclusion that I had refused
information on financial matters it is proper for me to remark that I
have always been prepared to furnish any such information in my power
in the regular and usual course. I presume this statement refers to
the fact that the Assembly having appointed a Committee of three
Members (of whom one was beyond doubt an unprincipled and bankrupt
adventurer and another a man who wasrarely
rarely to be found sober either
in or out of the Assembly) to inquire into the Expenditure of 1865, I
did decline to authorize the Treasurer to submit his books and
vouchers to any such Committee, in the belief that it was the duty of
the Executive Government, but wholly beyond the province of the
Legislative Assembly, to make such a detailed examination.
to the conclusion that I had refused
information on financial matters it is proper for me to remark that I
have always been prepared to furnish any such information in my power
in the regular and usual course. I presume this statement refers to
the fact that the Assembly having appointed a Committee of three
Members (of whom one was beyond doubt an unprincipled and bankrupt
adventurer and another a man who wasrarely
rarely to be found sober either
in or out of the Assembly) to inquire into the Expenditure of 1865, I
did decline to authorize the Treasurer to submit his books and
vouchers to any such Committee, in the belief that it was the duty of
the Executive Government, but wholly beyond the province of the
Legislative Assembly, to make such a detailed examination.
4. I may add that in 1865 the Assembly passed Supplemental votes for
1864 having before itsimilar
similar information to that transmitted to it
on the 22nd June 1866. On that occasion it sought from me and
obtained further though as I thought valueless information on certain
specific points.
similar information to that transmitted to it
on the 22nd June 1866. On that occasion it sought from me and
obtained further though as I thought valueless information on certain
specific points.
5. In the present instance although I intimated my readiness to
"furnish further information" the Assembly abstained altogether from
seeking at my hands any such information.
6. In reference to the last portion of the Resolution of the
Assembly now transmitted I am preparedif
if desired, to explain how it
would be impossible to restrain expenditure under every head of
service within the precise limits of the votes.
if desired, to explain how it
would be impossible to restrain expenditure under every head of
service within the precise limits of the votes.
7. The general result, as shown by my Message to the Assembly, is
that the actual Expenditure for 1865 fell short of the estimated
Expenditure by the sum of $46,264.
8. It will be necessary at a future time again to submit to the
Legislature the supplementary votes which have now thus been
rejected.
9. Having
9. Having carefully watched and considered the conduct of the
majority of the Legislative Assembly throughout these proceedings I
can only arrive at the conclusion that they desire thereby to force
the Executive Government into a compliance with their demands to
prepare the Estimates of Expenditure and originate money votes, the
disastrous results of which it would not be difficult to foretel.
Minutes by CO staff
Sir F. Rogers
I shd say that, the Assembly being dead, and all other circes considered, it wd be better now to treat these matters as lightly as possible. It was, no doubt, very proper on the part of Govr Kennedy to submit these documents to the S.S. but as he will have left the Colony before the ansr to this despatch can arrive he will be indifferent to the result.
I shd say that, the Assembly being dead, and all other circes considered, it wd be better now to treat these matters as lightly as possible. It was, no doubt, very proper on the part of Govr Kennedy to submit these documents to the S.S. but as he will have left the Colony before the ansr to this despatch can arrive he will be indifferent to the result.
I wd suggest an ackt with the addition that, under present circes,
Lord Carnarvon does not feel that it wd be of any advantage to the
public interests for him to offer any opinion on the subject.
ABd
31 Oct
I suppose so. I do not know how far or whether at all Gov. Kennedy
is chargeable with imprudence in having allowed the difft
departments to expend more than the money voted for them in the face
of a hostile Assembly. Under ordinary circumstances it wd require
explanation.
Acknowledge—observe that under ordinary circumstances it is the duty
of the Executive Govt to confine the different departts to the
expenditure only of the votes granted, but that looking to the change
wh by this time has taken place in consequence of the Union of the
Colony I do not think it necessary to or for the public interest to
pursue the question further.
Let me see the dph.
C
13 Nov
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Kennedy to Legislative Assembly, 22 June 1866, forwarding
various financial statements and estimates for 1865 and submitting a
Bill to the house for the sum "necessary to cover the expenditure
($26,581.64) in excess of the sums voted.
"Comparative Statement of the Estimated Expenditure of Vancouver
Island for the year 1865 and the actual Expenditure of the year as
taken from the accounts made up from 1st January to 31st December
1865," with explanatory notes attached, signed by Henry Wakeford,
Auditor.
"Comparative Statement of the Estimated Revenue of Vancouver
Island for the year 1865, and the Revenue received in that year as
shown by the accounts made up from 1st January to 31st December
1865," with explanatory notes attached, signed by Wakeford.
"Comparative Statement of the Estimated Expenditure of Vancouver
Island for the year 1865 and the actual expenditure of the year as
taken from the accounts made up from 1st January to 31st December
1865," with explanatory notes attached, signed by Wakeford.
Bill submitted to the legislative assembly asking for a
supplementary vote to cover expenditure for the year 1865, with
schedule attached.
Resolution passed by the Legislative Assembly, 31 August 1866,
refusing the supplementary supply because "the
amount asked for has been expended in excess of the Supplies voted by
the House, and the Executive has refused to allow this House to
examine the accounts of the public expenditure for the year 1865."
"Recapitulation of Revenue received during the year 1865,"
showing a total of $432,943.18, signed by Wakeford.
"Recapitulation of Payments made during the year 1865,"
showing a total of $432,943.18, signed by Wakeford.
