No. 25

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 took 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 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 not 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
attached to his office should not be less than five thousand
pounds a year.