D.—No. 12,

No. 1. Copy of a Letter from the Speakee, House of Representatives, to the Hon. Colonial Seceetaey. Sic, — House of Representatives, 24th July, 1867. I have the honor to request that you will be pleased to move the House of Representatives to take the necessary steps to attach a salary, defined by law, to the office of their Speaker. At the present moment, as you are aware, the salary of the Speaker depends upon annual vote. I beg respectfully to submit that it is not right that an Officer, from whom the utmost independence and impartiality are expected, should be in this position. The very discussions which annually arise at present upon the question of his salary have the inevitable result of placing the Speaker and the House in a false relation to one another. In other respects the system carries with it undesirable consequences which will readily suggest themselves to anyone who proceeds to think it out. The remedy for this is of course to be found in what I now ask for, namely, an Act of Parliament, by which the Speaker's salary shall be fixed so long as that Act remains unaltered. It might perhaps be convenient to include in one Act the salaries of the Speakers of both branches of the Legislature ; and I would beg to suggest that the Chief Clerks of the House of Representatives and of the Legislative Council respectively should be placed in a similar position —that is to say, that their salaries should be fixed by law. Their duties are of a responsible character, requiring special training and experience, and it seems to me that the efficient service of the Legislature will bo promoted by giving them an assured and definite position. There is another subject cognate to this, with regard to which I may be pardoned perhaps for reminding you that no Legislative provision exists. I refer to the appointment and control of the Officers of the House, the Clerks, the Serjeant-at-Arms, Door-keepers, Messengers, and others. It appears to me desirable that the uncertainty which at present exists should be removed, and that the powers and duties and control of the different officers of the Legislature should be defined and placed upon the basis of law. I feel satisfied that the successful working of our Legislative machinery would bo promoted by such a proceeding. Should you be prepared to accede to my request, I shall be very happy to give any assistance in my power to the Attorney-General, or any other person you may employ, to draft a Bill for the purpose ; and I would venture to express a hope that if the thing is to be done, it may be done at as early a period as possible. I have, &c, D. Moneo, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Speaker, House of Representatives.

No. 2. Copy of a Letter from the Hon. Colonial Seceetaby to the Speakee, House of Representatives. (67397.) Colonial Secretary's Office, Sic— Wellington, 29th July, 1867. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 24th instant, bringing under the notice of the Government the desirability of an Act specially providing for the salary of certain Officers of the Legislature, and for their appointment and control. In reply, I have to state that the Government will consider a Bill on those subjects, and will be glad to avail itself of the offer of your assistance in its preparation. I have, Ac, The Hon. the Speaker, House of Representatives. E. ~W. Staffoed.

No. 3. Copy of a Letter from the Speaker, House of Kepresentatives, to the Hon. Colonial Seceetaby. Sic, — House of Representatives, 12th September, 1867. On the 24th July I did myself the honor to address you requesting that you would take steps to have the salary of the Speaker of the House of Representatives fixed permanently by law, and not dependent (as at present) upon annual vote, and further suggesting the desirability of making some statutory provision for the appointment and control of the Officers of the House. On the 29th July I received an answer to the effect that Government would consider a Bill on these subjects, and would be glad to avail itself of my assistance (which I had tendered) in its preparation. In accordance with the views of the Government thus expressed, I put myself in communication with the Attorney-General, and I believe that that officer did consider and prepare a Bill to give effect to the nurposes originally suggested by me. I have now only further to observe that the opinion originally expressed by me in my letter of 24th July remains unchanged, and as the Session is now far advanced, I have to request that you will have the goodness to inform me whether it ii still your intention to submit any measure of the matter

CORRESPONDENCE REGARDING APPOINTMENT AND CONTROL OF OFFICERS OF THE LEGISLATURE.