From Ferdinand von Mueller to Thomas Wilson   26 Apr 1893

The file is marked 'Increase of £8' in an unknown hand and minuted 'noted' by Wilson on 5 May 1893.

This form is marked 'Office copy' in an unknown hand. M to T. Wilson, 25 March 1893 (in this edition as 93-03-25b) is an earlier version without percentage deductions.

17 deleted and replaced by 18, presumably at the Chief Secretary's Office.

This is marked with an asterisk, leading to an addition by Luehmann lower on the page: 'Provides office accommodation and pays for all contingencies.'

23 deleted and replaced by 22, presumably at the Chief Secretary's Office.

This is marked with two asterisks referring to a note by Luehmann lower on the page: 'Awaiting transfer to an other Department.'

13 deleted and replaced by 12, presumably at the Chief Secretary's Office.

201 deleted and replaced by 202, presumably at the Chief Secretary's Office

This is marked with two asterisks referring to a note by Luehmann lower on the page: 'Awaiting transfer to an other Department.'

7 deleted and replaced by 6, presumably at the Chief Secretary's Office.

This is marked with three asterisks referring to a note by Luehmann lower on the page: 'Has quarters (one room) in the building containing the herbarium, for which privilege he has to guard the place on Sundays &c.'

2 deleted and replaced by 1, presumably at the Chief Secretary's Office.

22 deleted and replaced by 19, presumably at the Chief Secretary's Office.

133 deleted and replaced by 129, presumably at the Chief Secretary's Office.

1417 deleted and replaced by 1418, presumably at the Chief Secretary's Office.

On 31 May 1893, the Under Treasurer, H. Eaton, wrote to the Under Secretary, T. Wilson, regarding the salaries 'of £100 and under from which no percentage reductions are to be made. It is requested that the amended Estimates may be furnished as early as practicable and that an amended total of amount of percentage reductions in your Department may be given.'. Wilson forwarded the letter to M on 2 June and he sent the 'Amended Percentage Reductions Total £131' the next day.

When the provision for M's department was debated and agreed to on 28 September 1893, the amount requested had increased from £1417 to £1607, with an additional post of Clerk in the Clerical division with a budget of £188, and some minor adjustments in the figures after reduction. The additional post is a consequence of the Public Service Board returning Gerhard Renner to the Government Botanist's Department (see notes to M to T. Wilson, 24 March 1892).

There was the usual debate (Victoria Parliamentary debates Session 1893, vol, 73, pp 1901-5), with objections led by R. T. Vale who doubted the value of the Department, especially as there was no reduction compared to the previous year, but an increase. He asked whether scientific experts were 'worth their high salaries', objecting on similar grounds when the Observatory and Mines estimates were considered. Others supported the value of M's work, with L. L. Smith pointing out that M had to pay for everything he required, 'including his stationery', only staff salaries were included in the vote. [At the time the financial crisis began in 1892 M reported, in M to A. McLean, 7 June 1892, that he had made 'arrangements to devote the difference between my Salary and the sum, which would be a pension, to the payment of all contingencies beyond the allowed £400']

MS written by Georg Luehmann and signed by M.