Enclosure 4.
Memorandum byMinisters.

Ministers have had under their consideration three memoranda referred to them by His Excellency embodying the respective views of the Native Secretary, the Assistant Native Secretary, and Mr. Bell as to the desirability of constituting a Council composed of persons belonging to the Native race to assist the Governor in the conduct of Native affairs. Ministers agree with those gentlemen in thinking that it would be desirable to introduce a Native element in the government of the aborigines, and when the Native Council Act was under discussion it was understood that this should be done. No formal enactment to this effect, however, was introduced into that Act, as it was deemed unadvisable to create a permanent machinery which after further experience might appear inconvenient.

Under these circumstances, and having regard to the objections raised to an immediate adoption of the plan proposed by two of the three gentlemen to whom the question has been referred it appears to Ministers that it would not be advisable to take action in the matter for the present.