Eastern
No XVII
CONFIDENTIAL.
Mauritius Currency.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference -
TELEC.O. 882
1
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
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1. THE complicated and anomalous position in which the currency of Mauritius is now placed, owes its origin and its continuance to a long train of errors commencing many years ago, and con- tinued by repeated fresh acts down to the present day. The question, however, is now becoming one of great political gravity, and the longer it remains not settled upon a sound basis, the more dangerous are the consequences to be dreaded, and the more disastrous and embarrassing will it be to the industry and commerce of the island.
2. At home, a long correspondence has taken place between the Colonial Office and the Treasury, in which different views have been very ably sustained; and in the colony, a Committee has been appointed by the Governor, consisting of the chief members of his Government and some of the most eminent persons in the island connected with its trade, and known for their ability with regard to subjects of finance. That Committee examined such witnesses as they thought best able to afford them valuable information, and opinions on the subject of the cur- rency of the island, including some of the chief plant- ers and merchants, and the Chamber of Commerce and the Commercial Bank in their collective capacity. Upon that evidence the Committee have made a report, which is supported in nearly every particular by all the witnesses, and in which the members of the Committee appear to have been unanimous. That report has been sent home by the Acting Governor for the time, receiving his unqualified sanction, and the present Governor has since ex-
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B