The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER, 4, 1867.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 207, 4 September 1867, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER, 4, 1867.

It is scarcely possible to regard the resolution which has just been proposed in the Legislature for the reductiou of the Governor's salary, as aught but ill-advised and especially injudicious at the present moment. Coming, as it does, immediately on the receipt of the intelligence of Sir George Grey's recall, an event which has been looked for by every Mail since the expiration of his term of office two years ago, the "motion savours too much of petulancy and of an anxiety to avenge ourselves in the person of bis successor for the slight "which the Downiug-street authorities are thereby assumed to have put upon us. We say nothing of the obvious injustice which must be inflicted upon his successor, who will probably have left England before su<*h a measure could be passed, and of the certainty which, exists that, under such circumstances, it ■would be sanctioned by the Imperial Government. But independently of this view of the case, there are other considerations which ■would cause us to regret the adoption of such, a proposition. To us it seeing that in the procuring of Governors from the ranks of- the most distinguished civil servants of the empire, the question of salary is of no small importance. The higher the enumeration the wider -the field of selection. Many men of high character, great attainments, long service, and large parliamentary experience would refuse to accept a position the occupation of which would tend to impoverishment. It. can hardly be expected that for a low and insufficient salary a man of superior, qualifications would abaudon home associations, interrupt a, career in. and exiie. himself to the most

distant part of the world. . We cannot but be sensible that the salary as now proposed leaves no margin for saving even by the exercise of the severest economy. If the dignity of the Crown is to be upheld by its representative, there are a number of expenses attendant upon the occupation of the office which can only be met by a large expend iture. It may be coutended that the home authorities would not be guided in their appoint- ! men t of a Governor by the high or low scale of remuneration for his services. Of this we know nothing, but we feel pretty sure that the individual selected would be guided very considerably by this consideration. It must be remembered that the acceptance of a distant government is equivalent to a perpetual retirement from the active runks of English politics. The appointment virtually closes such a career. It will be generally admitted that our present system of Government requires < that we should have as the representative | of the (Sovereign one of the best men attainable. There are doubtless some who regard the Governor as a mere puppet, and who think that he most efficiently performs his duties by scrupulously abstaining from doing anything. We can hold no such opinion, ncr can we conceive that any thoughtful mau in the community could entertain so absurd an idea for a moment. In his intercourse with his his advisers the Governor of a colony like this requires to be constantly on his guard* Surrounded with politicians, neither particularly cautious nor scrupulouSj he necessarily has to exercise his judgment at every turn, and examiue for himself matters of great moment which an inferior man would only regard as mere formalities. But apart from his relationship to his Ministry his duties are most onerous and multifarious. He has to preside over every national assemblage of citizens ; to heighten and influence public charity ; to enforce by counsel and example those maxims upon the acceptance of which the peace and blessings of civil society depend j to take advantage of every occasion to impress upon the people tinder his government the necessity of moderation, the advantage of living together in mutual goodwill, and the paramount duty of assisting each other in the encouragement and sustemmce of all works of real benevolence. Take the case of our present Governor. We believe that it will be generally admitted that few public servants go through more real and valuable labor than his Excellency, altogether irrespectively of his work in the deliberations of the Executive Council. We say nothing of his constant visitations of public institutions — of the mass of business which everyone in his position must have to transact, of which his responsible advisers know nothing. As a matter of economy there is no doubt. that something may be said in favor of a resolution which commences with retrenchment at the head of the Government. But we cannot help thinking that a very unfavorable opinion of our financial condition will be formed in quarters in which it is desirable that we should look our best, when it is ascertained that we are compelled to lower the salary of our Governor. The advantages of retrenchment may be more than counterbalanced by the suspicions provoked by our remarkably sudden economy.' The world is unphilosophicai enough to suspect a man who suddenly and sweepiagly retrenches his expenditure. The very circumstance which should inspire confidence in the mind of a creditor excites alarm. The world of the Stock Exchange does not differ much from that outside its precincts; and it is just possible that our debentures may not become more saleable by reasou of our parsimony.