§ MR. WHITLEYasked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies. Is it true that Sir George Bowen, when Governor of Mauritius, authorized Mr. Napier Broome to receive a sum of 3,600 rupees over and above the salary which had been paid to him during the time he was acting as officer administering the government of the Colony of Mauritius, though there was a Colonial Ordinance clearly forbidding such additional salary to be paid; is it true that this sum was paid to Mr. Broome notwithstanding that Mr. C. de Joux, then acting Auditor General, had reported that such payment was illegal; and, has the amount been refunded to the Colonial Treasury?
§ MR. EVELYN ASHLEYIt is true that Sir George Bowen authorized the payment to Mr. Broome of the full salary of the Governorship for the period during which he administered the Government, although there is a Colonial Ordinance which specifies half the salary as the usual remuneration. Sir George Bowen was not aware of the irregularity of the proceeding when he made the order, and the Ordinance was not brought 422 to his notice by the acting Auditor General, Mr. Stewart. It is not clear whether, after the order was given and before payment was made, Mr. de Joux, who had meanwhile become acting Auditor General, did or did not bring the irregularity to the notice of the Governor. As Mr. Napier Broome administered the Government for an unusually long period, the Secretary of State has, after much consideration, recommended that he should not be required to refund the amount, but that the payment should be legalized by a vote of the Legislature. I may add that it has been, usual, when an officer has had to bear the expenses attendant on a long tenure of office, to allow him to receive the whole salary attached to it; and it is hoped, therefore, that the Legislature will legalize the over-payment.