Ferdinand von Mueller

Melbourne bot. Garden

25/2/66

Sir

In compliance with your request I have the honor of transmitting to you a return of the present expenditure incurred for remuneration of the employees of the botanic Garden, of the adjoining parks and of the museum connected with the establishment. It will be observed, that the sum disbursed at present for garden labour is slightly in excess of the average sum available, a circumstance partly arising from increased engagements to the attendance of the garden and tree plantations at this season of drought, and partly induced by earth operations carried on in the bed of the lake now dry. I further deem it right to bring under your notice in reference to the standard of wages, that the garden work is not limited by the eight hours system, but that the labour extends regularly over ten hours except during the short days, when it commences at daylight and ceases at dusk. I further beg to observe, that only four holidays are regularly kept, vize Christmas-Day, New Years-day, Easter Friday and Queens birthday. Other holidays are either exceptionally or partially or not observed, according to the pressure of work at any particular time. It is also right to note, that no provision is made to provide for the Employees in case of illness, unless such is caused by accidents arising in the discharge of their duties or in cases where such illness arises from exposure to trying weather while the employees were engaged in their work. I further beg to bring under your notice, that those enjoying cottage accommodation in the Garden & Reserves are required to be on Sunday duties without extra pay, such duty consisting in watering & other attendance to propagation houses, nurseries, cart-horses &c. On Saturday afternoons the work is shortened at an average by two hours, to allow the employees the opportunity to prepare for the sabbath. It must further be observed, that more or less night work falls on the gardeners and labourers to provide for the irrigation of the borders and very extensive avenues and tree plantations, whenever Yan Yean water by high pressure is available. For this extrawork, in which every man on the place has cheerfully taken his share, and which has fallen on some for several months most onerously no extra pay could be granted, because the ordinary garden fund is not sufficient to meet the labor of such emergencies. Considering that an area of nearly 400 acres, allotted to this department is to be attended to, and that a scientific branch is connected with the establishment, and that with a view of benefitting the Governments reserves and hundred of rising public institutions throughout the country these have to be supplied with plants and seeds, and further that the soil nearly throughout the whole ground is of great sterility and that permanent not recurring works of improvement have still during the early process of forming the garden and the plantations to be carried out, I am of opinion that extreme economy is exercised in the disbursement of the fund at my control, and that large returns are obtained from the capital invested in the establishment entrusted to my care

I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient and humble servant

The honorable the Chief Secretary

1

MS file annotation: 'Copy to Mr Barker for Table of the House in reply to question by Mr McCann'. The Return was 'ordered to lie on the table' when presented to the Legislative Assembly on 27 February (Age, 28 February 1866, p. 5).

Return of

Persons employed at Melbourne Botanic Gardens

February 1866.