PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference
C.O. 882
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
Medical.
Page 10 of prist
i'nge 26 of priat
Police and
prisons, pages
30-11 of print.
Page 91 of print.
Paragraph 56
of Despatch.
10
Medical Department.
"the general revenue should to some extent be 23. The Committee consider that
on the people of the country a considerable portion of the cost "relieved by throwing "of public hospitals," and that the burden of these institutions in the large towns should fall upon the local rates.
This suggestion has been carefully and clearly dealt with by Sir J. Longden, in bis Despatch, No. 180, of the 21st of April, enclosing the hospital 'returns of the Island for 1882.
He proposes that a sum, amounting to Rs. 250,000, should be transferred from the general revenue to the local rates, being the cost, or a great part of the cost, of the maintenance of pauper patients in the ordinary Government hospitals.
In towns, where there are municipalities, he suggests that no patient should be admitted into hospital without a ticket from the chairman, or an unofficial member of the municipal council, certifying that the patient is poor, that he is an inhabitant of the town, and that the town will pay for him; that the same course should be followed where there are local boards, and that in other districts the assessments made for the maintenance of minor roads might be charged with the support of paupers of the district, who are sent to hospital by the chairmen of the district committees, so that as far as possible all pauper patients would be legally chargeable upon one or other of the towns or districts.
I readily admit that (as Mr. Dickson has pointed out) there are few, if any, countries in which so much has been done, as in Ceylon, in the way of providing the natives with hospitals, and I am ready to admit also that the late Governor's scheme, as detailed above, would probably distribute the burden of medical relief more fairly than the present system, under which it is possible that the large towns derive a disproportionate share of the benefits of the common expenditure. Still I cannot assent to a change which involves the production of a certificate by every patient wishing to enter a hospital. It is only of late years that the natives have begun to appreciate the value of these institutions, and of the scientific medical treatment to be obtained in them; and I cannot but think that they would be deterred from availing themselves of these advantages by a provision of the kind suggested in the Governor's despatch. If it is thought desirable, by some means or other, to throw the burden of the ordinary hospitals mainly upon the local rates, the cheapest and simplest plan would apparently be to charge each town or district with the cost of its own local hospital (except the salary of the medical officer in charge); but the question requires very great consideration, as it seems doubtful whether the machinery for raising the local rates, especially in country districts, is pointed out that the past adequate for the purpose. In the last preceding paragraph experience of municipalities in Ceylon was not such as to lead the Government to expect satisfactory results from imposing fresh burdens upon them, and if the change can only be supported on the ground of economy, it would seem desirable, before adopting it, carefully to consider whether other methods of adjusting the revenue and expenditure would not press less hardly upon the native population.
As the
Without any re-arrangement of the kind suggested, I gather from the 23rd paragraph of Despatch No. 180, of the 21st of April, that Sir J. Longden anticipates in future years a reduction of 100,000 rupees upon the Medical Vote for the current year. calculations of the Committee were apparently based on the estimate for 1883, this sum, or part of it, should, I presume, be included in the computation of possible retrenchment. "The Inspector-General of Police 24. Under Police the Committee recommend that
" undertake, upon vacancy, the duties of Inspector-General of Prisons in addition to his
own duties and without increase of salary."
46
This proposal is warmly supported by Mr. Saunders, who speaks from experience, having held the double office for nearly a year; and Sir J. Longden states that, in his opinion, an energetic officer could discharge the duties of both appointments.
If the present Inspector-General of Police were called upon to undertake also the inspection of the Colonial Prisons, I consider that he would be fairly entitled to some additional remuneration on account of the increase of work; and 1 am not satisfied that, presuming the present arrangements with regard to the police to be continued, the proposed amalgamation is in all respects a satisfactory measure.
Neither trouble nor expense have been spared of late years to improve the prison system of Ceylon, and the course of improvement might be checked if the inspection of presume, has no technical knowledge the gaols were handed over to an officer, who,
of the subject, and who is entrusted with the administration of another most important department.
11
As matters stand, I should have thought it preferable to adopt the plan in force in the Straits Settlements and Mauritius, and entrust the inspection of prisons to the head of the convict establishment, although such an arrangement would not involve so great a saving as would otherwise be effected.
If, however, further changes with regard to the Police, which are discussed in a later paragraph (paragraph 43) of this Despatch, are considered feasible, I shall raise no further objection to the Committee's proposal. In any case it will be possible to economise on the present establishment.
The question of the possibility of reducing the number of police stations is one which Paragraph 57. must be left entirely to the discretion of the local government.
25. Under Railway Department the Committee state that they do not feel in a posi- Bailways, page tion to make any recommendations, but they notice that the decline in Railway receipts
11 of print.
print.
is more serious than the fall in any other branch of the Colonial Revenue.
Seeing that the present difficulties of Ceylon are in great measure due to the charge incurred on account of the Railways, and that, as Mr. Dickson states, there is no Page 24 of expectation of the Nanu Oya line paying even its working expenses, it appears to me that the management, working, and expenses of the lines ought to be most seriously revised with a view to effecting every economy that is consistent with the safety of the public, and if it thought that adequate inquiry cannot be made by those already on the spot, I shall be prepared, if your Government thinks fit, to select a Railway expert from this country thorougbly to investigate and report upon the subject; it would be well, however, if the expense of a special mission could be avoided.
The present dual administration of the Railway to which the Committee allude has been discussed in previous correspondence, and a reform may possibly be facilitated by the retirement of the traffic manager.
print.
26. Under Pensions the Committee make a recommendation for abolishing the special Pensions, additions made in the computation of pensions of members of the Survey and Public of Works Department. The point is apparently not dealt with in Sir J. Longden's despatch, and requires separate report and consideration. It should be treated rather as a matter of principle than as a means of economy.
27. Under Revenue Services I see no objection to the small economy of 3,000 rupees in the matter of advertising land, sales recommended by the Committee and endorsed by the Governor, although Mr. Saunders seems to doubt its advisability.
Revenue Ser-
vions, pages 11
and 11 of print. of Despatch. Paragraph sa Page 1 of print.
28. Under Administration of Justice the Committee make five suggestions, which are Administre approved by the Governor.
Lion of Justice,
Page 12 of
Three of these appear to have been embodied in the draft of the Criminal Code, and peint. the other two, viz., Recommendations 3 and 5, will no doubt receive further consideration from your Government in connexion with that code.
Despatch.
The Committee estimate that a saving of Rs. 20,000 can be effected under this head, Par.40 of but Sir J. Longden was confident that improvement in the system of criminal justice would lead to a reduction in expense of exactly double that amount. It may possibly Transport, be more prudent to rely on the smaller estimate.
29. Transport shows a small saving of Rs. 750, approved by the Committee. 30. This completes the consideration of the schedule of definite reductions recom- mended by the Committee; and according to the modifications which have now been suggested, partly with a view to preserving the efficiency of the service, and partly in order to frame a prudent and moderate estimate, the figures will stand as follows:-
Secretariat
·
Treasury and Customs, say
N. Western and N. Central Provinces Southern
Public Works, Roads, and Surveyor General Queen's Advocate
District Courts
*
Rupees.
7,100
15,000
4,800
·
2,400
110,736
7,000
4,800
15,200
25,000
9,000
3,000
20,000
-
750
B 2
Registrar General and Fiscal
Public Instruction
Police and Prisons, say Revenue Services Administration of Justice Transport
Page 13 of print 1 par. 60 of Domputab.
Girop at page
48 of print.