}
closures.
99
10.
In these circumstances unless the
Imperial Treasury is prepared to come to the assistance of
the Colony and to meet the cost involved in giving
effect to the policy of closing Divans I fear that the
difficulties of carrying out that policy would be very
great. The view that Divans are in themselves agents for
the demoralization of however microscopie a proportion of
the population is not held by the bulk of the Community
here who by long residence in the East are better qualified
to judge than those at home who with the best of motives
advocate this particular method of restriction. It is not
as I have indicated shared by myself. That the special
legislation necessary to introduce any new taxation to
give effect to it would therefore be strongly opposed is
evident from the enclosed copy of a debate in Legislative
Council on the 24th, ultimo on a resolution moved by the
Member for the Chamber of Commerce, and unanimously support-
-ed by the Unofficial Members of Council to the effect
that:-
*In the opinion of this Council
"the reasons given in the House of Commons on 28th. July
*by the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, in
"explanation of the peremptory nature of the order
issued