Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Musgrave, Sir Anthony to
Wodehouse, First Earl of Kimberley John
11 May 1871, CO 60:44, no. 5557, 35.
Abstract
Musgrave, Sir Anthony to
Wodehouse, First Earl of Kimberley John
11 May 1871, CO 60:44, no. 5557, 35.
Despatch to London.
Minutes (6), Enclosures (untranscribed) (1), Other documents (1), Marginalia (3).
No. 57
11th May 1871
My Lord,
I have the honor to forward to Your Lordship a Memorial from
Officers of the Civil Service who will remain in the employment
of the local Government of this Province after Unionwith
with the
Dominion. They fear the effect of "Responsible" or Party
Government upon the security of their present appointments, and
pray that they may still be entitled to look to Her Majesty's
Government for further employment elsewhere in the event of
their losing their offices through no fault of their own.
2.
with the
Dominion. They fear the effect of "Responsible" or Party
Government upon the security of their present appointments, and
pray that they may still be entitled to look to Her Majesty's
Government for further employment elsewhere in the event of
their losing their offices through no fault of their own.
2. I have communicated to these gentlemen the first part of
Your Lordship's Despatch No 3 of the 19th January, in which
you authorized me to
inform the Civil Officers of British
Columbia that their acceptance of employment under the Canadian
Government will not preclude them from applyingat
at any future
time for other employment under your Department and that it
should not efface any claims to such employment which they may
derive from their character and past services.
I regard this assurance as including all officers, whether they
should remain in the service of the local Provincial
administration, or belongto
to Departments immediately transferred
to federal control. These gentlemen, however, fear that the
language applies only to the latter class, and that claims on
the part of public servants remaining under the local
administration will not be recognized. Hence this appeal to
your Lordship's consideration.
3.
at any future
time for other employment under your Department and that it
should not efface any claims to such employment which they may
derive from their character and past services.
I regard this assurance as including all officers, whether they
should remain in the service of the local Provincial
administration, or belongto
to Departments immediately transferred
to federal control. These gentlemen, however, fear that the
language applies only to the latter class, and that claims on
the part of public servants remaining under the local
administration will not be recognized. Hence this appeal to
your Lordship's consideration.
3. I do not share the fear of these Gentlemen with regard to
their future prospects, as the action of responsible government
in other places has not generally been found to work any
injustice to persons in the public service; and I have pointed
out to them that it is unreasonable to expectany
any definite
pledge from Your Lordship to afford them further employment.
But, I have no doubt that you will not object to affording them
assurance that the language of the Despatch which I have quoted
applies to their cases as well as to those persons taking
service immediately under the Government of theDominion
Dominion.
Considering that the introduction of Responsible Government in
this Colony takes place under circumstances different from those
in other places where it has been established—in consequence of
the great and unprecedented change from the position of a Crown
Colony to that of a Province of theDominion
Dominion with local
self-government—I think that the present Public Officers have
some more than usual claims to your favor and protection.
any definite
pledge from Your Lordship to afford them further employment.
But, I have no doubt that you will not object to affording them
assurance that the language of the Despatch which I have quoted
applies to their cases as well as to those persons taking
service immediately under the Government of theDominion
Dominion.
Considering that the introduction of Responsible Government in
this Colony takes place under circumstances different from those
in other places where it has been established—in consequence of
the great and unprecedented change from the position of a Crown
Colony to that of a Province of theDominion
Dominion with local
self-government—I think that the present Public Officers have
some more than usual claims to your favor and protection.
Minutes by CO staff
Surely there is no reason to suppose that the Canadian Govt
would, after the American fashion, discharge subordinate
officers for Party motives.
I should not be so sure.
The Secretary of State, unless under very special
circes, cannot offer reemployment to these smaller
office holders, as He is not likely to have the means at his disposal.
I should instruct the Governor to answer them as above and send
copies to Lord Lisgar expressing a hope that as these
subordinate officials are not numerous it may be possible at the
Union to find them employment in their present or in other
situations. Mr Wodehouse should see this.
RM
7/6
ERW
June 8/71
I think I would put it more in this shape: that Lord Kimberley
had not intended, as rightly understood by the subordinate
officers who will after the Union remain in the service of the
local provincial administration, to refer to them in the words
quoted by Mr Musgrave from his Ldp's despatch of 19th
Jan (144) [No. 3].
The cases of those higher officers who would be
likely to lose their offices from political causes was then
under consideration, and the 9th par of Govr Musgrave's
despatch of Nov 17
(to which
that of Lord Kimberley in 144 [No. 3] was a reply) expressly
distinguished from it the different case of the subordinate
officers. The Dominion Government do not appear to have raised
any question as to the continued employment of these subordinate
officers, (and Lord Kimberley sees no reason whatever to doubt
that they will notwithstanding the constitutional changes be
continued in their present or in equally good positions)
But [revised to read: and] he does not think he would be doing
any service to this class of officers if he were to hold out to
them any expectation of his being able to provide them with
employment in other colonies.
Quote in full.
Omit this. I don't feel quite so sure.
RGWH
June 7/71
I think Mr Herberts answer will do.
EHKH
8/6/71
K
June 8/71
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Memorial, Civil Servants to Kimberley, 6 May 1871, seeking
assurance that they can "look to Her Majesty's Government for further
employment elsewhere" in the event of their dismissal following
union, fourteen signatures.
