asked to report, inter alia, on the steps to be
taken to avoid wasteful duplication of services in
the administration of the Colony's urban and
rural areas,
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I should wish to be consulted on the
Commission's recommendations before any decisions
are taken on then,
(h) Financial powers of the Municipal Council
(paragraph 34). I would ask that the Commission,
when appointed, be reminded of the need for making
specific provision, so far as may be necessary,`for
the the application to the Municipal finances of that
measure of external control which it is necessary
to exercise over the Oolony's finances whilst it 18 in receipt of financial assistance from H.M.G.
and for the carrying out of the Colonial Government'
responsibility in respect of any scheme under the
Colonial Development and welfare Act, 1940, with
which the lunicipality may become concerned.
As regards the question of the powers of the
Municipal Council in the matter of taxation, whilst
there is no objection to the municipality acting
as agents of the Central Government for the
collection of specified taxes, or to the proceeds of
specified taxes being assigned to the Municipality
to meet expenditure, or to the Municipality being
empowered to fix the fees payable in respect of
licences etc., issued by it, I desire to make it
clear, to avoid any possible misunderstanding, that
it would in my view be open to objection if the
Legislature were to delegate to the unicipality
any authority to levy taxes or fix the rate of taxes.
(1) Municipal loan projects (paragraph 35).
I confirm that any loan projects of the Municipality
should be submitted to and receive the sanction of
and that I would wish them
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as well.
/(5) Anait