No. 20

I have the honor to transmit the copy of a letter from Mr Watson the
Treasurer of this Colony complaining of the reduction of his salary.

I cannot but regard this proceeding of the House of Assembly as
unreasonable and impolitic. The services of respectable officers
cannot be retained on such conditions.

It is impossible for a married officer to maintain a respectable
status upon the salary voted for the Treasurer, namely $1700 (£350).
A cook, a gardener, or a groom in this Colony can command $500 a year
wages in
addition to their board and lodging which may be estimated at
$250 more.

The salary for a Treasurer's clerk has also been disallowed and I
have as a temporary arrangement been obliged to transfer the clerk in
the Survey Office to the Treasury to prevent the public accounts and
records falling into confusion.