Auckland Jan. 3/71 My dear McLean, It was not till just before I left Wellington I heard the Home Government have agreed to give us the terms we asked for paying the Pensioners. The money thus obtained I propose to use to save part of the salary Dr. Pollen draws - in other words to effect a retrenchment to the amount - I have not finally decided but I expect to charge about £300 of Pollen's present salary to the Commission received from the home Government. The balance or part of it I propose to give Haultain for helping Pollen - The duty is a very troublesome one and Pollen could not perform it alone - besides Tom Russell begs us most earnestly to do something for Haultain. Russell seems very friendly. I hope you will be satisfied with what I have done or rather what I propose to do - I write you this explanation because Ormond has an idea that you consider the matter in your department - I do not know how you conceived such an idea as the matter is essentially a Treasury one and was arranged by me for the Treasury - Probably you have conceived it was in your department because I mentioned the matter to you before I went to England. I think we are tolerably strong here - Ormond is keeping to his work and will do splendidly - Best wishes Yours very truly Julius Vogel