D— No. 12.

4

CORRESPONDENCE REGARDING THE APPOINTMENT

originally contemplated to the consideration of the Legislature,*and if so, within what period I may expect that it will be introduced. I have, &c, D. Moneo, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Speaker, House of Representatives.

No. 4. Copy of a Letter from the Speakee, House of Representatives, to the Hon. Colonial Seceetaey. Sic, — House of Representatives, 12th September, 1867. I do myself the honor to forward for your perusal extracts from May's " Treatise on Parliament," and from the Appendix to the Journals of the House for 1862, from which you will perceive what is the practice which obtains in the House of Commons and in the Colonies of New South "Wales and Queensland as to the appointment of the officers of the Legislature. I believe that other Colonial precedents might be referred to pointing in the same direction, but the limited time at my disposal at present does not allow me to look them up. I have, &c, D. Moxeo, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Speaker, House of Representatives.

Enclosure 1 in No. 4. Extract from May's Treatise on Parliament. Edition of 1863, page 229. " The chief officers of the House of Commons are, the Clerk of the House, the Serjeant-at-Arms, the Clerk Assistant, and Second Clerk Assistant. The Clerk of the House is appointed by the Crown for life, by letters patent, in which he is styled ' Under Clerk of the Parliaments, to attend upon the Commons.'" * * * " The Clerks Assistant are appointed by the Crown, under the Sign Manual, on the recommendation of the Speaker, and arc removable only upon an address of the House of Commons." * * " The Serjeant-at-Arms is appointed by the Crown, under a warrant from the Lord Chamberlain, and by letters patent under the Great Seal, 'to attend upon Her Majesty's person when there is no Parliament,' and, at the time of every Parliament, to attend upon the Speaker of the House of Commons; but after his appointment he is the servant of the House, and may be removed for misconduct." * * *

Enclosure 2 in No. 4. Copy of a Letter from the Speakee of the Legislative Assembly, Queensland, to the Speakee of the House of Eepresentatives. Sic, — Brisbane, sth June, ISG2. In reply to your letter of the 10th ultimo, I have the honor to inform you that the Clerks and other subordinate officers in our Legislative Assembly are appointed by the Executive upon the recommendation of the Speaker: I shall have much pleasure at all times in furnishing you with any information respecting our Assembly that you may require. I have, &c, Gilbeet Elliott. The Hon. the Speaker of the House of Representatives, New Zealand. Vide Appendix, Session 1862. D. 19—No. 16, page 9.

Enclosure 3 in No. 4. Copy of a Letter from the Speakee of the Legislative Assembly, New South "Wales, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Sir, — Sydney, 4th June, 1867. I have requested Mr. Thompson, the Chief Clerk of our House of Assembly, to send you all the information you wish to have respecting the mode in which all appointments in the offices of the Assembly arc made here ; you will receive from him some Parliamentary Papers bearing on the subject. All the Clerks and the Serjeant-at-Arms are appointed on the nomination of the Speaker. On two occasions the Government disputed this right, but my predecessor and myself appealed to the House, and were supported in maintaining it by very large majorities: it is now no longer questioned. I have, &c, T. A. Muebay. The Hon. the Speaker of the House of Representatives, New Zealand. Vide Appendix, Session 18G2. D. 19.—N0. 17, page 9. Enclosure 4 in No. 4. Copy of a Letter from the Cleek of the Legislative Assembly, New South "Wales, to the Speakee of the House of Eepresentatives. Sic, — Legislative Assembly Office, Sydney, 4th June, 1867. I have the honor, by direction of the Honorable the Speaker, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 18th ultimo, and, in reply to the inquiry therein contained, to inform you as follows: — 1. " Clerks and other officers " of the Legislative Assembly are appointed by the Executive upon the "recommendation" of the Speaker. (See resolution of the Assembly of the 24th January, 1860,

T. A. Murray.