From Ferdinand von Mueller to James Grant   8 June 1867

Melbourne, bot Garden

8/6/67

Sir

In compliance with your request I have the honor to submit to you a schedule, which may be regarded as the basis of expenditure of wages in the botanic Garden. It needs however scarcely to be pointed out, that the number of employees engaged must vary according to season and accidental circumstances and temporary requirements. It also is impossible to fix permanently the rate of wages, as it is desirable to leave to the discretion of the responsible Director the power of remunerating the services of every Individual employed according to the nature of the work, for which he is or may be engaged. The wages do not exceed current rates, if it is remembered, that only four holidays are kept annually, that no remuneration is granted in sickness unless such arises from an accident incurred in the service or from exposure to weather while the employee was on duty, and that the working hours are ten a day. No payment is rendered for the Sundays, except to watchmen on duty.

Regarding the salaries I would recommend that that of the Gov Botanist and Director of the botanic Garden be decreased, as already recommended last year to £500 and that the office of the Assistant be abolished for economy's sake. In this case I recommend, that the ordinary compensation be granted under the Civil Service Act or that the service of the Officer be transferred, as provided for in the Civil Service Act to an other Department. To effect a reduction in the expenditure for contingencies I beg to suggest, that the sum of £250 may be deducted in 1868 from the item of publishing works, that sum having annually been expended in lithographic drawings & lithographic printings, which works, however desirable they may be, are not absolutely necessary. By this means and by abolishing the water-vote, which is not charged to the Fitzroy & other Parks, the expenditure of the botanical Department can be reduced in 1868 by approximately £1000. No further reduction will however be possible without crippling some branch of the Department; the nursery operations may be decreased, to allow some labor for tea, coffee, cinchona, tapioca, corkoak &c being cultivated in the fern-tree gullies.

The demanded general return of gazetted contracts, I have also the honor to annex, also schedule of expended contingencies. No special contracts have been yet accepted this year

The forage vote of £220 provides for three Governments Horses, of which two heavy cart horses are daily at work; the third is a messengers horse; besides out of this vote the expenditure for water-birds on the lake, for singing birds in the aviary and for the few menagerie animals is met. The director provides his private horse for the service, and provides also himself privately for its sustenance.

I beg in conclusion to observe, that wages for extra-earthworks and for other unusual and extensive operations have been provided according to the requirements of the time out of the special vote granted for public works in the botanic Garden.

I have the honor to be,

Sir,

your very obedient

Ferd. Mueller.

The honorable the President of the Board of Lands & Works

[Balance of Votes for the Botanic Gardens Melbourne]

**£164.1.2 of this sum were paid for Stores obtained under Requisition from the contractors and £28 18 4 for purchases made according to Clause 75 of the Store & Transport Regulations

Salaries, Melbourne Botan. Gardens

Rates of wages paid to Gardeners, Labourers and others engaged at the botanic Garden. (subject to alterations)

Contracts for the supply of Stores &c to Government Establishments. during 1867

Forage for horses, water & singing birds &c

Liabilities chargeable against the Votes for Contingencies for goods received or ordered or for services &c rendered for which accounts have not yet been passed.

Incidental Expenses

Purchase of Plants & Seeds

Publication of Works on Australian Plants

Forage for Horses &c

Stores, Stationery