§ Bill, as amended, considered.
§ COLONEL SYKESsaid, he had to complain of the burden which the measure would cast upon the taxpayers of this country. It was proposed to give to a Colonial Governor who had had a salary of £5,000, a pension of £1,000 after four years' service; a Governor who had been in receipt of a salary of £2,500, would obtain a pension of £750 for life; while Colonial Governors who had enjoyed smaller salaries were to receive proportionate retiring pensions. These pensions would be 761 allowed them quite independently of their having performed any previous service, and it might be paid to them between the age of forty and sixty. Considering, therefore, that we had forty odd colonies, each with a Governor of its own, it was easy to see how costly an arrangement this would be to the public. He looked upon the Bill as a convenient mode of rewarding Government supporters. He thought that, with the professed desire of economy on his side of the House, this measure ought not to have been allowed to go through almost sub silentio. By accident he was absent when it was read a second time; but he now felt bound to say that he was no consenting party to the measure.
§ Bill to be read 3° on Monday next.
§ House adjourned at a quarter before Ten o'clock, till Monday next.