*
VIC
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abolition in view of the financial considerations involved.
6.
Licences to keep Divans are
issued annually on February 28th. and in view of the
circumstances I have described I venture to submit to Your
Lordship that existing Licences should be allowed to expire
in due course, and that on March 1st next only half should
be renewed. This would give me time to ascertain what com-
-pensation may be equitably due to the Farmer, to the
Divan-holders dispossessed, and to Landlords and Insurance
Companies. On March 1st., 1910 all Divans would entirely
disappear.
7.
With regard to the compensation
involved. The amount in these circumstances would be very
largely reduced, and if Your Lordship should consider it
possible to authorise me to inform the Council that a pro-
-portion of the burden thrown upon the finances of the
Colony
-
say one-half would be borne by the Imperial
Government either by a corresponding decrease in the
Military Contribution for 1909 and 1910 or otherwise it
would have a very excellent effect upon His Majesty's
loyal subjects in this Colony, as proving the dis-
-interestedness of His Majesty's Government and its willing
-ness to assist the Colony in hearing a burden which its
finances