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1881. NEW ZEALAND

PROPOSED ALTERATIONS AND REDUCTIONS IN AGENT-GENERAL'S OFFICE (CORRESPONDENCE WITH SIR J. VOGEL). [In continuation of D.-3, 1879.]

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

No. 1, The Hon. the Colonial Seceetaet to the Agent- Geneeal. (No. 5.) Sie, — » Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 2nd January, 1880. Eeferring to previous correspondence on the subject of reductions in the staff of your department, and having in view the great diminution in emigration operations, the Government have arrived at the opinion that further reductions should take place in your office with as little delay as possible. The gentlemen employed during the past year as Emigration Agents were, I find, Mr. C. Holloway, at £150 a year; Mr. G. M. Eeed, at £600; Mr. A. Clayden, at £250; and Mr. District-Judge Bathgate, at £350; involving an expenditure of £1,350 in salaries, besides travelling and incidental expenses. I understand that the employment of two of these gentlemen in their present capacity will terminate shortly, if it has not already ceased, in terms of their appointment; and you will have gathered from Mr. Eolleston's letter, of the 6th November last (D.-la., Sess. 11. 1879), the wish of the Government that you should reduce the expenditure in this direction generally, as soon as possible, consistently with absolute engagements. I shall be glad to learn that you have been able to do so. I shall also receive with much satisfaction an intimation from you that a sensible reduction is capable of being made in the large staff employed in the London office, consisting as it does of nine clerks, besides the Secretary, Accountant, and shorthand-writer. It seems to me that, amongst other reductions, a second emigration officer might be dispensed with under existing circumstances; or, if the long services of the gentleman now filling that situation are such as to give him a strong claim on the consideration of the Government, then that room should be made for him by the removal of some other officer. I have no doubt you will agree with the Government that, looking to the large diminution which the suspension of emigration operations must effect in the work of your office, the strong wish expressed in Parliament for a reduction in the cost should be met with as little delay as possible. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. John Hall.

No. 2. The Agent-Geneeal to the Hon. the Colonial Seceetaet. (No. 342.) Sie, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 21st April, 1880. Eeferring to your letter No. 5, of the 2nd January last, relating to the subject of reductions in the staff of this department, and stating that the Government have arrived at the opinion that further reductions should take place, I have the honor to report that I have from time to time taken the opportunity of carrying the wish of the Government into effect. Out of eight clerks engaged in this office in September last, more especially in emigration work, I have dispensed with the services of five—namely, Mr. Wait, Mr. Molloy, Mr. Kingston, Mr. Collas, Mr. Sugden. I have also dispensed with the services of the short-hand writer, and of one of the messengers (C. Parker). Of the gentlemen mentioned by you as employed during the last year as Emigration Agents, Mr. G. M. Eeed, Mr. Clayden, and Mr. Bathgate were specially sent to England under engagements made in the colony; and, as soon as I can, in good faith, terminate such engagements I will take care to do so. , I—A. sb.