PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
TELEC.O. 882
4 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO
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the white population. But that does not deprive the Colonists of Natal of the constitu- tional rights of British subjects, and of electing members of their Legislature. In 1856 Natal had four official and 12 elected members; in 1873, five official and 15 elected Is there any valid reason members; in 1882, seven official and 23 elected members. why Natal should be more trusted and better treated than Mauritius? In Barbadoes where there is a very large labouring population, the elected members form a large majority in the Legislature, and the case is the same in several of the West Indian Colonies.
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The last mail has brought the account of an interview between Lord Derby and a deputation of gentlemen interested in Jamaica, the mixed population of which is nearly analagous to that of Mauritius. Some members of the deputation, like our opponents. only prayed for the addition of some nominated unofficial members to the present Council, which is similar to ours, and which, in 1866, superseded the former very democratic Constitution, consisting of the Governor, a Legislative Council, and an Assembly of 47 elected members. Lord Derby's answer was characteristic. I advise a careful study of it :-" It is quite clear to me, as it could have been to Lord Cardwell "17 years ago, that in a country like Jamaica, with a very large and intelligent popu- lation, and within so short a distance of the United States, a despotic or quasi despotic Government cannot be otherwise than a provisional and transitory state of things, and I heard with peculiar pleasure what one of the gentlemen said, namely, "that in point of wealth, in point of education, in point of civilisation generally, the negro population has so far improved and advanced that the old difficulty of admitting "it to any share in the Government, is, if not done away with, at least greatly diminished, and I apprehend also that the danger of misunderstanding and hostility "between the white and the coloured population is now no longer considered serious." Who can deny here that that description applies still more strongly and more truly to Mauritius than to Jamaica? His Lordship adds, "That being so, I am able to say that "we have carefully considered this question of the Constitution to be given to Jamaica, "that we are prepared to take a new departure, and that it is our intention to introduce. something of an elective element into the new arrangements which are to be made." I ask by what principle of justice can an elective element be denied to Mauritius, if it is granted to Jamaica.
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peace Barely six years have elapsed since the great statesman who brought back “ with honour from Berlin, obtained for England the possession of Cyprus, at the risk of offending powerful states in Europe. But though Cyprus, like Mauritius, is inhabited by people of all the nations bathed by the Mediterranean, with their variety of languages, creeds, and colours, it enjoys, since last year, a Legislature consisting of six official and 12 elected members.
Malta has still a minority of unofficial members chosen by election, but Malta is a military and naval stronghold of the utmost importance to England. Its revenue and expenditure are only one-third of those of Mauritius, and its population only 150,000. It is contiguous to Italy, of which it speaks the mother tongue, and the unrestricted power of the Crown there is necessary for securing the paramount interests involved.
With due deference to Lord Derby, Ceylon, which he quotes against us, is not at all There, a few a case in point. Ceylon is nearly 40 times larger than Mauritius. thousand Englishmen, a large proportion of whom are not even permanent residents, are lost amongst a population of more than 2,700,000 natives. The circumstances of Mauritus are altogether different. Here, still more than in Jamaica, to which an elective element is to be granted, there is a large and highly educated resident popula- tion of European descent, and a large prosperous and progressing middle class of different origins well qualified and deserving to be entrusted with the franchise.
The doctrine that in Crown Colonies the power of the Crown should be absolutely paramount in the first instance, has been gradually surrendered in progressing depen- dencies, with mutual advantage to the Crown and to those dependencies. Instead of ruling by means of the official majority of a Council distrusted by, and often repugnant to the feelings of the people, on account of its constitution, the Crown has trusted to the loyalty, to the judgment, and to the good sense of the Colonists who have been con- ciliated and won by just, liberal, and generous treatment, and thus the better govern- ment and the greater affection of those Colonies for the mother country have been promoted. I do not remember any such Colony in which the Crown has been seriously embarrassed or in which the government has been brought to a dead-lock, except in the cases relating to transportation, in which their claims have ultimately been recognised as just,
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There is one last consideration which I wish to place before my unofficial colleagues. In this moderate but very categorical petition, 3,329 petitioners belonging to the best educated and to the most influential classes, have deliberately told the Queen that, whatever may be their private feelings towards us, they do not recognise us as their representatives because they have had no share in our selections; that we are the nominated members of Privy Council expressing only our individual views however conscientious these may be, and not directly responsible to public opinion, and that as such we do not and cannot possess their confidence; that they claim to be represented in the Council of Mauritius by at least one-third of elected members, and that they will only be satisfied when this is granted to them. Well, if we are satisfied that their prayer may be granted without serious danger, let us not wait till public confidence has been so far withdrawn from this Council that the best men in this Colony will be un- willing to accept a nominated seat in it, as it has happened in many other Colonies before, under similar circumstances. Let us advise the Secretary of State that we are ready and would be glad to welcome our elected colleagues and to co-operate with them as well as with our official friends to the good government of this Colony and to the promotion of its public weal.
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Lord Stanley, in his Despatch already quoted of the 15th April 1842, wrote to the Governor of the Cape of Good Hope. That it is the tendency of progressive consti- tutional changes gradually to accommodate themselves to the wants of society, that it is highly important to assign to the people collectively a share in the management "of their own local affairs, that it is to the want of this participation, and to the ignorance then resulting that popular discontent is chiefly to be ascribed, that great benefits are to be anticipated from the free and open discussion of public interests, that there is no other method of dispelling the apathy and self distrust which induce the mass of society to lean on the Government for aid and guidance in many cases "where they would much more effectually assist themselves by the use of their own resources, that such institutions afford a species of political education, and train both the electors and the elected to a more just and comprehensive view of public
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These words are strikingly true. They are worthy of the eminent statesman who wrote them, and deserve to receive their application in Mauritius, by the just and enlightened decision of his distinguished son, even if, in the words of Lord Grey, "some difficulties have to be wisely encountered and some apparent risks well incurred (which is not the case) in order to confer on this Colony, the desired boon of an elective element in its Legislature.
This Council, by voting to-day the first resolution by a large majority, has already opened that prospect. Let us render it almost certain by also voting this second resolution. With our local experience and our knowledge, with the stake which we have in the welfare of the Colony, our deliberate vote must carry weight with the Secretary of State, and reassure and encourage his Lordship. Let this solemn day mark the beginning of a new era for Mauritius. We all love this Colony, we know it well; and, we may be confident that, far from having to regret it, we will feel the satisfaction of having contributed to the future contentment and happiness of Mauritius, and to its firmer loyalty and increased attachment to the British Crown.
The Hon. A. P. AMBROSE said:-
Sir, it is with great pleasure that I second the motion of the honourable knight, who has so ably replied to the objections raised by Mr. Napier Broome in his Despatch of the 21st October 1883, that he leaves me nothing to say. Perhaps like able generals, the champions of the opposing party may have kept in reserve some strong arguments. If so, the reformers may have to call out their reserves, when I shall be prepared to do my good work.
The Hon. R. STEIN said :—If words carried weight by numbers, assuredly anything I can say would be of no avail against the mass we have just heard. Only facts not words must decide the case. As regards the first clause of the resolution, I believe that the changes proposed by the Secretary of State, if slightly modified, may be made most useful. But I believe that the three members proposed should not be named for one year, but for five years like the other members. During the first year, the new councillor has to learn his work and whatever may be his ability, he can never be so useful during the first year as he would be after he has become acquainted with the work of the Council. I trust this will be weighed when the matter again comes under consideration. As to the second clause “that the Council can only be adapted to the
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