1
D
380
5.
I venture to urge most strongly that the Dormant Commission of the 14th October, 1903, should be cancelled and that, as in Ceylon, the administration should in the Governor's absence devolve upon the officer, whether substantive or acting, "for the time being lawfully discharging the functions of
Colonial Secretary".
If Your Lordship considers it desirable it would
be possible to avoid hurting the feelings of General Ventris by providing that so long as he is here he shall administer the Government in preference to an acting Colonial Secretary, but I beg that this arrangement may not extend to his successors. There are many points on which the views and interests of the Military Authorities are not in accordance with what I believe to be the interests of the Colony and no military officer can possibly have the knowledge and experience possessed by the senior civil officers of a country where intimate local know- ledge is of immense importance.
6.
I would ask that this matter may be regarded as one of urgency since it is possible that Major-General Ventris may be absent for some months and in the event of anything happening to me the administration would be automatically assumed by Colonel Young - a contingency which I cannot contem- plate without the gravest misgiving.
*
I have the honour to be,
My Lord,
Your Lordship's most obedient,
humble servant,
Be. Statky
Governor,&c.