326
the
explanatory returns which should
accompany
the Annual and)
Supplementary Estimates.
I
quite agree
with Mr. Rennie in
thinking that there need be no difficulty
in accompanying
The Annual Estimates
with all the returns asked for in Your
Lordship's despatch of the 18th January last, addressed to the Officer Administering the Government of Ceylon, except the Report of the Financial Sub-Committee of
Ceylon. the Legislative Council, because there is
No
such body in existence,
and I
am not aware of any advantage which would
follow the creation of such a body.
In reference to the Supplementary Estimates, which, as Mr Rennie observes,
are
really in this Colony not so much in the usual acceptation of the
term
as an
Act of Indemnity for expenditure
incurred under authority of the Secretary of State alone, or approved subsequently by him, I would respectfully suggest that
unless inconvenience greater than
has yet arisen or be apprehended, it is not desirable to change the existing
system in this Colony. Apparently the change would certainly lead to much additional trouble, and perhaps, with but
a proportionate corresponding advantage.
Individually I do not believe that
any amount of trouble could be expected to prevent the necessity