COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA— SALARY OF THE GOVERNOR GENERAL. (Hansard, 23 July 1901)

THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (The Earl of ONSLOW)

My Lords, I am sorry that an error has crept into the Paper. The noble Earl did tell me some time ago that he wished to make this inquiry, but when I saw his notice on the Paper I thought, owing to the omission to which he has referred, that it had reference to another matter. I will, however, do my best to answer the question of the noble Earl without making the full inquiries which I should otherwise have made. The Governor General's salary cannot be altered during his tenure of office, but some efforts were made, on behalf of the States, to make a contribution towards the establishment allowances and for the purpose of entertaining, temporarily. 1296 A Bill passed through the State Legislature of New South Wales, but did not pass through the Legislatures of the other States. Consequently the idea was abandoned, and the Secretary of State for the Colonies is now informed that the matter will be brought before the Parliament of the Commonwealth with a view of making some further provision for the Governor for the purpose of entertaining and towards establishment allowances. The Papers have not yet been sent to His Majesty's Government, and therefore I am not able to give any information as to their nature. There has been some correspondence with regard to the salaries of the State Governors, and I understand that some Papers have been published in Australia. I do not know what they are, but if they have been laid on the Tables of the Colonial Legislatures there is not likely to be any difficulty in laying them on the Table of your Lordships' House. At the same time, I think it would be convenient to wait until the correspondence and the arrangements are finally completed for making such provision as the several States may make for the salary of the separate Governors.