VOTE OF CENSURE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 138, 13 June 1932, Page 9

VOTE OF CENSURE.

MOVED AGAINST GOVERNOR.

FIJI COTTNCIIi DISPUTE.

HIS EXCELLENCY'S APOLOGY.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

SUVA, June 8. There was a large and interested audience in the Legislative Council yesterday when the leader of the Elected Members moved a motion of censure upon the Governor, Sir Murchison Fletcher. The motion read: "That in the opinion of this Council the action of the Governor in increasing the emoluments of the Secretary for Native Affairs above the amount provided in the Colonial Estimates for 1932, in opposition to the known and expressed opinion of the Elected Members, without first obtaining I the approval of the Legislative Council, constitutes a deliberate infringement of the rights and privileges of this Council." The debate was carried on with ardour by the six Elected Members. In reply, his Excellency said that they had been acting under a misapprehension. He acknowledged that the Governor could not alter a salary without the previous sanction of the Secretary of State, and the Council was similarly prohibited from aiding and abetting. He held a j contrary opinion to the Elected Members, land said in his opinion the salary had I been fixed at £1000 (the Estimates only I provided £800 for the post). The £800 had been allowed under a misapprehension on his part, and he had at once notified the Secretary of State, who told him to obey the Royal instruction, and he had done so. He pleaded to discourtesy to the members, and felt that he should have informed them when he received the cable from the Secretary of State. The matter had wholly escaped his memory. He expressed regret at his discourtesy. He had instructions that the C6*uncil could not alter the salary approved. Sir Henry Scott: Then we know where we stand.

The motion was defeated, all the official members voting against it and the six Elected Members voting for it.

On the request of Sir Maynard Hedstrom the Governor agreed to adjourn the Council until to-morrow to allow the Elected Members to consider their future action.

The Elected Members have been pressing for a general reduction in the official salaries. The Governor in the Budget referred to the colony's reserves, but it is contended that these were never intended to bolster up the Budget. The salaries all round are nearly 75 per cent higher than they were 10 years ago, yet the Governor states that they are "parsimonious."