Document information
Physical location:
V93/3407, unit 731,VPRS 3992/P inward registered correspondence, VA 475 Chief Secretary's Department, Public Record Office, Victoria. 93.04.26Preferred Citation:
Ferdinand von Mueller to Thomas Wilson, 1893-04-26. R.W. Home, Thomas A. Darragh, A.M. Lucas, Sara Maroske, D.M. Sinkora, J.H. Voigt and Monika Wells (eds), Correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller, <https://vmcp.rbg.vic.gov.au/id//letters/1890-6/1893/93-04-26-final.odt>, accessed June 9, 2026
1
MS written by Georg Luehmann and signed by M.
Sir.
In accordance with your instructions I have the honor to submit the estimates of the
expenditure for the Gov. Botanist's Branch of the Public Service during the financial year 1893/4.
As regards revenue I may remark that the sale of the publications emanating from my
establishment at the Govt. Printing Office come to a considerable sum annually, though
not as a direct revenue of the Branch under my control.
2
The file is marked 'Increase of £8' in an unknown hand and minuted 'noted' by Wilson
on 5 May 1893.
I have the honor to be
Sir
Your obed. servant
Ferd. von Mueller,
Govt. Botanist
T. R. Wilson Esq.
Under Secretary
ESTIMATES of EXPENDITURE for the Year ending 30th June, 1894
.
3
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.
|
Years and Numbers.
|
Classification under Act.
|
1— Chief Secretary
|
1893-4. Irrespective
of Percentage Reductions
.
|
Percentage Reducti
ons
.
|
Estimate
, 1893-4
.
|
Appropriation
Act 1892-3.
|
||
|
1892-3.
|
1893-4.
|
160.
|
773.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Division No 17
4
17
deleted and replaced by
18, presumably at the Chief Secretary's Office.
Government Botanist
Salaries
Subdivision No 1
Professional Division
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
Sc
|
Government Botanist
5
This is marked with an asterisk, leading to an addition by Luehmann lower on the page:
'Provides office accommodation and pays for all contingencies.'
Maximum £750
|
800
|
88
|
712
|
740
|
|
1
|
1
|
|
4
|
Subdivision No 2
Clerical Division
|
325
|
23
6
23
deleted and replaced by
22,
presumably at the Chief Secretary's Office.
|
303
|
309
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subdivision No 3
Non Clerical Division
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
1
|
|
|
1st Herbarium Assistant
7
This is marked with two asterisks referring to a note by Luehmann lower on the page: 'Awaiting transfer to an other Department.'
Maximum
£252
|
214
|
13
8
13
deleted and replaced by
12,
presumably at the Chief Secretary's Office.
|
201
9
201
deleted and replaced by
202, presumably at
the Chief Secretary's Office
|
229
|
|
1
|
1
|
|
|
2nd Herbarium Assistant
10
This is marked with two asterisks referring to a note by Luehmann lower on the page:
'Awaiting transfer to an other Department.'
£132
|
132
|
7
11
7
deleted and replaced by
6,
presumably at the Chief Secretary's Office.
|
126
|
131
|
|
1
|
1
|
|
|
3rd Herbarium Assistant
12
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.'
£96
|
76
|
2
13
2
deleted and replaced by
1,
presumably at the Chief Secretary's Office.
|
75
|
70
|
|
3
|
3
|
|
|
|
422
|
22
14
22 deleted and replaced by 19,
presumably at the Chief Secretary's Office.
|
402
|
430
|
|
5
|
5
|
|
|
Total Division No 17
|
1547
|
133
15
133 deleted and replaced by 129,
presumably at the Chief Secretary's Office.
|
1417
16
1417 deleted and replaced by
1418,
presumably
at the Chief Secretary's Office.
|
1479
|
Ferd. von Mueller,
Govt. Botanist
17
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.
26/4/93
18
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']