A.—3.

8

COPY OP LETTER PROM THE SPEAKER, HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES, TO THE SPEAKERS OP OTHER AUSTRALASIAN COLONIES, WITH REPLIES THERETO. Sic, — Ashburton, New Zealand, 11th May, 1893. I should be greatly obliged if you will kindly cause me to be informed as to the practice in your colony in relation to the matters following, viz. : — 1. By whom is the Serjeant-at-Arms selected and appointed? 2. Bame as to Clerk and Clerks-Assistant of the House? 3. Are the latter employed during the recess (after they have finished their duties in relation to Parliament) in any of the Government offices ? 4. Does your Government claim any authority over the officers or any of them, or to utilise their services in connection with any Government department during the recess ? I have, &c, W. J. Steward, The Hon. the Speaker, Legislative Assembly. Speaker, House of Eepresentatives.

The Speaker's Eoom, Legislative Assembly, Deab Sic,— Sydney, 26th May, 1893. I am in receipt of your letter of the 11th instant, making inquiries as to the practice of our colony relative to the several matters indicated in your letter. 1. The Serjeant-at-Arms is selected by the Speaker, and appointed by the Governor and Executive Council. 2. The same course is adopted with regard to the Clerk, Clerk-Assistant, and all the officers of the Assembly, the messengers being appointed by the Speaker alone. 3. None of the officers of the House are during the recess or at any other time employed in relation to any other duties beyond those appertaining to them in connection with the House. 4. Our Government does not claim any authority over any of these officers in any respect whatever. I may add that so jealous is the House that the control of these officers shall be within the province of the Speaker, as representing the House, that, by resolution, the House has on more than one occasion protested against any interference by the Executive authorities either with the officers of the House or with any recommendation of the Speaker concerning the expenditure of the House. This course is so strictly followed that the estimates in connection with the Legislative Assembly are prepared entirely by the Speaker, and submitted by the Executive for the consideration of the House without any alteration whatever. If any alteration has to be made, the House claims that it and not the Executive shall make that alteration. Any other information I can afford to you in reference to any matter it will give me much pleasure to furnish you with. I am, &c, The Hon. W. J. Steward, J. P. Abbott, Speaker. Speaker, House of Eepresentatives, New Zealand.

Sic, — Parliament House, Melbourne, 24th May, 1893. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 11th instant, requesting some information as to the appointment, &c, of certain officers of the Parliament of Victoria, and I have pleasure in forwarding you the following categorical answers to your interrogatories : — Questions! and 2. —By whom is the Serjeant-at-Arms selected and appointed? Same as to Clerk and Clerks-Assistant ?— Reply 1 and 2. Under Part IX. of the Constitution Act Amendment Act (No. 1,075), the power of nomination to every office in the Department of the Legislative Assembly is vested in Mr. Speaker, and the Act further provides that the appointment shall be made by the Governor in Council. If any nomination be not approved by the Governor in Council, that body may request Mr. Speaker to nominate some other person; and, if some other person be not nominated within the time specified, the Governor in Council may appoint without any nomination. Question 3. —Are the latter employed during the recess (after they have finished their duties in relation to Parliament) in any Government offices ? — Reply 3. They are never so employed. Their duties in relation to Parliament occupy their time in the Department of the Legislative Assembly during the recess as well as during the session. Question 4. —Does your Government claim any authority over these offices, or any of them, or utilise their services in connection with any Government department during the recess ?— Reply 4. No question of authority has ever been raised, nor have their services been utilised outside the Department of the Legislative Assembly, except in connection with the Federal Conference held in Melbourne in 1890, and one or two Commissions connected with Parliament House. Any further information which you may desire to obtain on the subject of your letter you will probably be able to gather from "The Officers of Parliament Act" (a copy of it being enclosed herewith), which now forms Part IX. of the Constitution Act Amendment Act. I have, &c, Thos. Bent, The Hon. W. J. Steward, Speaker, Legislative Assembly of Victoria. Speaker, House of Eepresentatives, New Zealand,

Deak Sic,— Speaker's Office, Adelaide, S.A., 29th May, 1893. Our practice in reference to the matters touched upon by your letter of the 11th instant is as follows :— 1 and 2. The Serjeant-at-Arms —who is also the Clerk-Assistant—is nominated by the Speaker