5

A.—3

The Interpreters also hold sessional appointments, and therefore it is not possible, without breach of contract, to call upon either Mr. O'Eorke or the Interpreters to discharge other duties during the recess than they have been hitherto called upon to perform. Ido not know what fresh arrangements Mr. O'Eorke might be disposed to enter into, but will communicate with him on the subject if the Government have any proposition to make. As regards the Interpreters, it is possible that some arrangement might be come to differing from that at present in force, and, if it is the wish of the Government to make any proposal, I shall be happy to inquire as to its feasibility, and as to what alteration of existing arrangements can be made. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier. W. J. Stewaed, Speaker.

Sib,— Wellington, 2nd November, 1892. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 10th ultimo, addressed to the Hon. the Premier, with regard to the utilisation of the services of certain officers of the House during the recess, and which has been referred to me to deal with. In reply I have to inform you that the Government, having carefully considered the matter, have resolved to carry out the proposals intimated to the House by the Hon. Mr. Seddou, and I have now to ask you to be so kind as to inform Messrs. Eutherfurd, O'Eorke, and Hamlin, and Captain Mair that their services are required, and request them to report themselves to me, either in person or by letter, as early as possible. I have, &c, The Hon. the Speaker, House of Eepresentatives, Wellington. A. J. Cadman.

Sib,— Ashburton, 12th November, 1892. I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter No. 774 (92/3072), and dated the 2nd November instant, in which you ask me " to inform Messrs. Eutherfurd, O'Eorke, and Hamlin, and Captain Mair that their services are required, and request them to report themselves to you, either in person or by letter, as early as possible." In reply I have to say that it does not appear to me that it is in the power of the Speaker to issue such an instruction to the officers in question. They are officers of Parliament, appointed as such with clearly-defined duties, and cannot, in my opinion, be called upon by me to place themselves at the disposal of the Government. I have, &c, W. J. Stbwaed, The Hon. A. J. Cadman. Speaker, House of Eepresentatives.

Sir,— Wellington, 3rd March, 1893. The Government having, at the instance of Parliament, decided that the services of certain parliamentary officers should be utilised during the recess, it is considered advisable, therefore, that fresh arrangements should be entered into with these officers. I have the honour, therefore, to request that you will be good enough to intimate to Captain Mair, and Messrs. Hamlin, O'Eorke, and Eutherfurd that their services under the present arrangements are hereby determined. Kindly inform them at the same time that the Government is prepared to enter into fresh arrangements with them. These gentlemen being parliamentary officers, the Government think it advisable that the above intimation should be conveyed to them by Mr. Speaker. However, if you think otherwise, and will notify me to that effect, I will communicate with them direct. I have, &c, The Hon. the Speaker, House of Eepresentatives. A. J. Cadman.

Sir,— Ashburton, 13th March, 1893. In reply to yours of the 3rd instant, I have to say that, in view of previous correspondence on the same subject, I had hoped that the Government would have deferred any further proposals until Parliament had met, and opportunity had been taken to obtain the direction of the House. I note that the Government claims to be now moving in the matter at " the instance of Parliament," but I am not aware that the House of Eepresentatives has expressed its wishes thereon, and I do not think that I should be justified, as Speaker, in taking the action you propose without its specific direction. It is quite possible that the House may prefer that its officers should confine themselves solely to its own service, notwithstanding any saving that might otherwise be effected ; and, in view of that contingency, and of ihe fact that Parliament will (I suppose) be in session in about three months' time, I desire respectfully to suggest that, before any action be taken, the matter should be submitted to the decision of the House. I have, &c, The Hon. A. J. Cadman. W. J. Steward.

Sic,— Wellington, 18th May, 1893. The Government having decided that the services of certain parliamentary officers shall be utilised during the recess, it is considered advisable to enter into fresh arrangements with those officers. I desire, therefore, to intimate to you that the arrangements at present existing with