SECOND READING. (Hansard, 21 June 1872)

§ MR. KNATCHBULL-HUGESSEN
, in moving that the Bill be now read a second time, said, that an Act was passed in 1865 enabling the Secretary of State to grant pensions to colonial 79 Governors who should have reached the age of 60 years. The full rate of pension was to be given to persons who had served for 18 years as Governors, or for 10 years as Governors and 25 years altogether in the Civil Service. The reduced rate of pension was to be given to persons who, after having attained the age of 40, had served 12 years as Governors, or for 8 years as Governors and 20 years altogether in the Civil Service. One effect of that Act had been found to be that persons who had finished their service at some period between 12 and 18 years were most anxious to be employed again, so as to complete that longer period which would entitle them to the larger pension. They might be very near the 18 years—they might have been good public servants—but yet it might be undesirable to employ them at an advanced age; whilst, on the other hand, it seemed hard to refuse them employment, and to dismiss them with a 12 years' reduced pension when they had served 15, 16, or 17 years. The Colonial Office had therefore deemed it much better that the Secretary of State should have the power of giving to such persons a fractional yearly increment above the lower rate. That, in the interest of the service, would enable them to get rid of persons from whom the State had received the best part of their life's work, without hardship to them; whilst, in the interest of economy, it would enable them to dismiss them with a less amount of pension than if they had been re-employed and had completed their 18 years. The Treasury, however, would not allow such a measure to be passed unless it was secured that there should be no additional charge upon the public revenues. That eminent actuary, Mr. Finlaison, was therefore employed to draw the schedules of this Bill, and upon his figures the Treasury were satisfied that no such additional charge could be created, whilst the position of those Governors would be much more satisfactory.

§ MR. DICKINSON
said, he was of opinion that the Bill would considerably increase the present pension list, and as he condemned the principle upon which 80 these pensions were to be given, he would move that the Bill be read a second time that day six months.

§ MR. R. N. FOWLER
said, he was of a different opinion. The scale of rewarding colonial Governors was far too low. He should like to see them far more liberally rewarded.

§ MR. RYLANDS
said, the Bill was intended to allow the Secretary of State to give pensions for infirmity of mind or body at an earlier age than 60, and at an increased rate. The present pension list contained the names of persons who had been pensioned for infirmities of mind or body, and it was a well-known fact that many of them had since recovered and were capable of discharging public duties.

§ MR. KNATCHBULL-HUGESSEN
, in answer to the remarks which had been made, must say that in all his experience he had never known of any appointment from that House or elsewhere unless the gentlemen nominated were perfectly qualified for their duties. Looking over the whole range of our colonies, it must be admitted that the salaries of the Governors and other officials were not excessive.