HC Deb 16 June 1890 vol 345 cc1006-7
MR. HANBURY

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies what has been the salary of the High Commissioner for South Africa at various times since the creation of that office; what proportion of it has been paid by the Imperial Government and Cape Colony respectively; and what is the proportion of such payments, and the total salary, at the present time?

THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Baron H. DE WORMS,) Liverpool, East Toxteth

When the High Commissionership was first created the Governor of the Cape, who has always held the appointment, was merely High Commissioner for the tribes on the Eastern frontier. He received £1,000 a year from Cape funds, in addition to £5,000 a year also from Cape funds as Governor. Sir Bartle Frere, who in 1877 was first appointed High Commissioner for South Africa, also received £1,000 a year from Cape funds, as did Sir Hercules Robinson. In 1889 a Cape Act was passed, No. 38 of 1889, increasing the High Commissioner's salary from colonial funds to £3,000 a year. Sir Bartle Frere was paid £1,500 a year as a personal allowance from Imperial funds. Sir Hercules Robinson received and Sir Henry Loch receives £1,000 from the same source. These Imperial allowances were granted in each case upon personal grounds, and do not necessarily attach to the office. The total salary being £9,000, the proportion of the Imperial payments to the total salary at the present time is 1 to 4 if the salary of the High Commissionership is meant, or 1 to 9 if the total emoluments of Sir Henry Loch are meant.

MR. HANBURY

I understand that the result is this, the Colonial Government pays £3,000, and the Imperial Government £1,000.

BARON H. DE WORMS

Yes, Sir.