See
Governor Musgrave's despatch 144 & minutes. In par: 10 of
his despatch—
if the Attorney General & Col:
Sec can be
otherwise provided for I think it probable that the Canadian
Gov may be relieved of any
present necessity for the payment of Pensions—but I regard it as
necessary that the provision should be made in the event of
necessity & as security to the Officers concerned that they will
not be allowed to go without either employment or pension. But
it may readily be understood that the Pensions will not be drawn
if the claimants are provided with suitable employment.
I think from what
M Musgrave says in a previous part of the
despatch that
his his object & wish was to relieve the Columbian
Gov from the necessity of asking the Canadian
Gov to provide
Pensions to be paid
at once in the case of the
Att. General & Col.
Sec by providing
for them elsewhere—in the case of all the other Officers by
providing for them on the spot. But it is not to me quite clear
whether he proposed that the acceptance of other Office was to
ignore their right to fall back on a Pension for loss of their
original Office.
M Phillipo wishes to be
assured that if his health breaks
down before 10 years service in
B. Guiana, he should fall back
on his Canadian Pension. His present Salary is £800—probably
the Pension would be about £400. I think he ought to be too
glad to get an app at once of £1500 without the condition he
attaches to its acceptance, altho' his anxiety not to be left
entirely unprovided for if his health fails him before 10 years,
can be readily understood.
He says he cannot move
before
June.
I agree with
M Herbert that we cannot give
M Philippo any
pledge which would bind the Canadian government, and therefore I
think that the offer of the Puisne Judgeship should be
withdrawn, especially as he cannot leave
B. Columbia before
June. I would suggest that a telegram should be sent to
Governor Musgrave in the following words—
I am unable to assent
to
Philippos's conditions, and must appoint some one else.