on a future occasion the House should con sider whether the Provincial Officers taken over should be credited with their past ser vice in ranking on the civil list. He was rather inclined to agree with that view, but he should not like to entertain the matter suddenly and without due consideration. Sir George Grey remarked that if an act of justice was to be done let it be done at once. Wherefore he recommended that the clause should be postponed, with a view of giving effect to the opinions of the Treasurer and other hon gentlemen on the subject. , The Treasurer pointed out that under the Civil Service Act all officers taken over would be placed on exactly the same foot ing as the civil servants of the colony. The words “ within one year,” in the first line of the clause were struck out. In the fourth line, after the words “ are dispensed with,” Mr Harrison moved the insertion of the words “ or if he elect to leave such employment,” which wa« opposed by Messrs Reid and Luckie, as offering a pre mium to men to leave the service. The amendment was negatived on the voices. , Mr McLean moved the excision of all the words after “ dispensed with,” in the last line of the clause, and the insertion in lieu thereof of the following:—“Shall not be entitled to more than twelve months’ salary in all.” He considered the civil servants proposed to be dealt with were being treated too liberally. Civil servants were better paid than those in merchants’ offices ; the latter only receiving a month’s notice or pay. Mr Hunter charged the member for Waikouaiti with making a very rash as sertion, Civil servants did not get any thing like what was paid to clerks in mer chants’ offices. Mr O’Neill considered the civil servants of the colony were the poorest paid of any civil servants in the Southern Hemisphere. He proposed as an amendment, which was negatived, that the words “ three months’ notice” be struck out. Mr Wood moved as a further amendment, “ Provided always that no member of the Provincial Executive Council shall be enti tled to any compensation for loss of office ;’ but on the Treasurer pointing out that the Bill covered that amendment, it was with drawn. 