Musgrave, Sir Anthony to Wodehouse, First Earl of Kimberley John 11 May 1871, CO 60:44, no. 5557, 35.

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Despatch to London
Musgrave, Anthony to Wodehouse, John 11 May 1871, CO 60:44, no. 5557, 35.

Abstract

Musgrave, Anthony to Wodehouse, John 11 May 1871, CO 60:44, no. 5557, 35.

Despatch to London. Minutes (6), Enclosures (untranscribed) (1), Other documents (1), Marginalia (3).

No. 57

11th May 1871

My Lord,

I have the honor to forward to Your Lordship a Memorial from Officers of the Civil Service who will remain in the employment of the local Government of this Province after Unionwith

with the Dominion. They fear the effect of "Responsible" or Party Government upon the security of their present appointments, and pray that they may still be entitled to look to Her Majesty's Government for further employment elsewhere in the event of their losing their offices through no fault of their own.

2. I have communicated to these gentlemen the first part of Your Lordship's Despatch No 3 of the 19th January, in which you authorized me to inform the Civil Officers of British Columbia that their acceptance of employment under the Canadian Government will not preclude them from applyingat

at any future time for other employment under your Department and that it should not efface any claims to such employment which they may derive from their character and past services. I regard this assurance as including all officers, whether they should remain in the service of the local Provincial administration, or belongto

to Departments immediately transferred to federal control. These gentlemen, however, fear that the language applies only to the latter class, and that claims on the part of public servants remaining under the local administration will not be recognized. Hence this appeal to your Lordship's consideration.

3. I do not share the fear of these Gentlemen with regard to their future prospects, as the action of responsible government in other places has not generally been found to work any injustice to persons in the public service; and I have pointed out to them that it is unreasonable to expectany

any definite pledge from Your Lordship to afford them further employment. But, I have no doubt that you will not object to affording them assurance that the language of the Despatch which I have quoted applies to their cases as well as to those persons taking service immediately under the Government of theDominion

Dominion. Considering that the introduction of Responsible Government in this Colony takes place under circumstances different from those in other places where it has been established—in consequence of the great and unprecedented change from the position of a Crown Colony to that of a Province of theDominion

Dominion with local self-government—I think that the present Public Officers have some more than usual claims to your favor and protection.

I have the honor to be,
My Lord,
Your most obedient
Humble Servant
A. Musgrave

Minutes by CO staff

Mr Meade
See 144. The present applicants are holders of very subordinate offices.

CC 6 June

Surely there is no reason to suppose that the Canadian Govt would, after the American fashion, discharge subordinate officers for Party motives.

I should not be so sure.

The Secretary of State, unless under very special circes, cannot offer reemployment to these smaller office holders, as He is not likely to have the means at his disposal.

I should instruct the Governor to answer them as above and send copies to Lord Lisgar expressing a hope that as these subordinate officials are not numerous it may be possible at the Union to find them employment in their present or in other situations. Mr Wodehouse should see this.

RM 7/6

ERW June 8/71

I think I would put it more in this shape: that Lord Kimberley had not intended, as rightly understood by the subordinate officers who will after the Union remain in the service of the local provincial administration, to refer to them in the words quoted by Mr Musgrave from his Ldp's despatch of 19th Jan (144) [No. 3]. The cases of those higher officers who would be likely to lose their offices from political causes was then under consideration, and the 9th par of Govr Musgrave's despatch of Nov 17

Quote in full.

(to which that of Lord Kimberley in 144 [No. 3] was a reply) expressly distinguished from it the different case of the subordinate officers. The Dominion Government do not appear to have raised any question as to the continued employment of these subordinate officers, (and Lord Kimberley sees no reason whatever to doubt that they will notwithstanding the constitutional changes be continued in their present or in equally good positions)

Omit this. I don't feel quite so sure.

But [revised to read: and] he does not think he would be doing any service to this class of officers if he were to hold out to them any expectation of his being able to provide them with employment in other colonies.

RGWH June 7/71

I think Mr Herberts answer will do.

EHKH 8/6/71

K June 8/71

Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)

Memorial, Civil Servants to Kimberley, 6 May 1871, seeking assurance that they can "look to Her Majesty's Government for further employment elsewhere" in the event of their dismissal following union, fourteen signatures.