274 



A HISTORY OF THE COLONY OF VICTORIA 



were any arguments brought forward in the long discussion of this 

 matter that justified the change. It increased the cost of the Par- 

 fiamentary machine, which, with the salaries of Ministers, members 

 and the official staff soon ran up to 50,000 a year. Large as 

 this tax was, it was more than doubled by some 60,000 a year 

 paid to the Government printer for embalming the oratory of Par- 

 liament hi the confiscating pages of Hansard. Within another 

 decade the whole community revolted against the waste of time 

 and money involved in such an unworkable Legislature, and de- 

 manded its reduction by one-half. It was pointed out that if 

 representation in the House of Commons was on the same basis, 

 it would have 3,000 members instead of 670, and its cost, assuming 

 the equivalent of Victoria's payments, would exceed 1,000,000 

 sterling yearly. 



Early in 1888 Sir Bryan O'Loghlen got back into the Assembly 

 on the decease of the member for Belfast, who had ousted him. 

 Mr. James Service, who had just returned from England, was 

 elected to the Legislative Council in May of this year, as repre- 

 sentative of the Melbourne province. Strong efforts were made to 

 induce him to re-enter the Assembly, where it was felt that his 

 sound views of finance were very urgently required. But his medi- 

 cal adviser and his personal friends were averse to his undertaking 

 the strenuous duties which that position involved to a man of his 

 temperament. 



Sir Henry Loch was fortunate in the period of his Governor- 

 ship, inasmuch as political peace prevailed, an apparent general 

 prosperity gave cheerfulness to all his surroundings, and brilliancy 

 to his many social functions. During his recent visit to London, 

 he had been pressed to accept the position of Governor of Cape 

 Colony and High Commissioner for South Africa, the Colonial De- 

 partment having doubtless descried portents of approaching trouble 

 there that would necessitate the presence of a man of resolution 

 and experience. Probably his career in that position was redolent 

 of much difficult negotiation and many anxieties, which under a 

 loyal sense of duty he regretfully accepted. He left behind him in 

 Victoria nothing but pleasant memories, and carried with him the 

 esteem of all with whom he had been associated. His successor 



