355
of Ke
and
prayer of that petition,
220
doubt within
your knowledge that I de-
clined to append my signature
to it.
I avail
myself of the opportu-
nity now afforded me to set forth the
view I took in the Legislative
Council and the introduction
in the Executive Council,
not prepared to advocate such
sweeping change.
I consider that British Imperial
interests must always be para-
mount here because this Colony is only a
commercial depot and coaling station,
which position is somewhat at variance with that taken by the
majority of my official Colleagues in the Legislative
Council.
I am of opinion that a somewhat larger share in the management and control over the admi-
nistration of purely local affairs should be conceded to
the British tax payers of this Colony; but I think the petition goes
too far. It contemplates the utter swamping of the official
element in the Legislative Council.
I am aware of no resident of any magnitude who regards
the island as his home; we are all birds of passage, giving place, every few years,
to another set of, shall I say, commercial sojourners. There is no permanent local interest,
no planting of estates handed down from