No.57 on 54145/4/49
than were contemplated in yond despatch/
- 3 -
be drafted and enacted, electoral districts delimited,
and the whole machinery for holding elections set up.
In this connection, I am aware from my discussions with
you that it would be difficult under present circumstances
to make the staff with sufficient experience available
for this work.
5. I note that your proposals do not contemplate
any further development of the Urban Council at this
stage until certain difficulties which are dealt with
in paragraphs 28 to 30 of your despatch under reply have
been resolved. But if it were decided to adopt a system
of election to the Legislature on some such alternative
basis as that proposed in paragraph 4 above, I feel that
it would be a matter of considerable importance that in
the management of Urban Council affairs the election of
members, which has, I understand, been in abeyance since
the last war, should be reintroduced and the number of
elected representatives possibly increased. I should
also like to see the franchise of the Urban Council
extended to include British subjects even if they do not
qualify under the provisions of Section 3 of Ordinance
jez
No. 7 of 1935. Further, I would urge that early steps
should be taken to devolve on the Urban Council to the
greatest extent consistent with the avoidance of
overlapping and duplication, the real responsibility for Urban affairs. If the basis for the appointment of members
of the Urban Council were suitably widened, there might be
advantage in associating that Council with the process for
the selection af members to the Legislative Council.
67 I need hardly stress the fact that experience in
local government work of this kind affords the best
possible training for membership of the legislative body
with its wider responsibilities, and I should hope that
when replying to this despatch you might be able to
put forward constructive proposals with the above
objectives in view. So much time has already elapsed
/between