24
within that limit should have a given proportion to the sums voluntarily raised by the body itself."
Whilst it is well for the members to know what was ruled elsewhere by Her Majesty's Government, the question they would have to consider now was that set forth in Lord Knutsford's Despatch of the 20th of September last, namely, that without making so consi- derable a change as the principle of Dr. Beaugeard's motion contemplated, a re-adjustment of the existing division should be adopted.
The Governor added that he would ask the members to favour him with their advice on the subject at a special Executive Council to be held in a day or two.
A true extract.
(Signed) D. P. GARRIOCH,
Acting Secretary to the Executive Council.
DISTRIBUTION OF ECCLESIASTICAL GRANTS.
At a meeting of the Executive Council held at Government House, Port Louis, on the 28th of November 1889, to consider the distribution of the ecclesiastical grants, the Council, after full discussion, by five votes to one, passed the following resolution :- "With a view to carry out the wishes of Her Majesty's Government as expressed in Secretary of State's Despatch, No. 314, of the 20th September 1889, that, subject to existing interests, there should be a revision of the present distribution of the ecclesiastical grants which would give a somewhat larger proportion to the Roman Catholic Church than it now has.
"That the present grant of Rs. 128,150 be divided into 25ths, and distributed in the proportions of 20, 4, I amongst the three Christian churches, which distribution would give the following sums to the respective churches :—
64
Roman Catholic Church Church of England
Church of Scotland
Rs. 102,520
20,504
5,126
Compared with the appropriation of the grants made in 1889, the Roman Catholic Church would thus gain Rs. 21,658 a year, the Church of England would lose Rs. 21,394 and the Church of Scotland Rs. 264,
"The rate per member of the professed adherents of the Roman Catholic and Protes- tant churches would then be as follows:-
No. of professed Adherents,
Existing Rate.
Proposed Bates.
Roman Catholics
Protestants
Rs. C.
108,000 0 75
8,000 5 90
Rs.
C
0 95
3 20
25
Enclosure 3 in No. 12.
EXTRACT from the MINUTES of the proceedings of a MEETING of the EXECUTIVE COUNCIL held at the Government House, Port Louis, on the 28th November 1889.
The Council met, pursuant to notice, to consider the question of the ecclesiastical grants in Mauritius.
Read printed papers which had been distributed among the members, and laid before the Council of Government by command of his Excellency the Governor.
Sir V. Naz pointed out that if the Protestant churches received Rs. 16,000 and the Roman Catholic Church Rs. 112,150, it would be giving to the adherents of the former about two rupees a head, and to the latter one rupee a head.
The Acting Auditor General proposed the following resolution :-
With a view to carry out the wishes of Her Majesty's Government as expressed in Secretary of State's Despatch, No. 314, of the 20th September 1889, that, subject to existing interests, there should be a revision of the present distribution of the ecclesiastical grants which would give a somewhat larger proportion to the Roman Catholic Church than it now has.
That the present grant of Rs. 128,150 be divided into 25ths, and distributed in the proportions of 20, 4, and 1 amongst the three Christian churches, which distribution would give the following sums to the respective churches :-
Roman Catholic Church Church of England
Church of Scotland
RB. 102,520
20,304
5,126
Compared with the appropriation of the grants made in 1889, the Roman Catholic Church would thus gain Rs. 21,658 a year, the Church of England would lose Rs. 21,394 and the Church of Scotland Rs. 264.
The rate per member of the professed adherents of the Roman Catholic and Protes- tant churches would then be as follows:-
No. of professed Adherents.
Existing Rates.
Proposed Rates.
Ra. C.
Roman Catholics
Protestants
108,000
8,000
0 75
RA. C.
0 95
5 90
8 20
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
EPLLC.O. 882
5 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO
"His Excellency the Governor said that personally he was in favour of complete religious equality, based on concurrent endowment, the share of the ecclesiastical grants being proportioned to the number of members of each church, according to the principle established in the West Indian Colonies by Her Majesty's Government some years ago, but looking to the views now expressed in Lord Knutsford's Despatch, he was willing to accept the resolution of the majority of his advisers, and he would accordingly transmit it to the committee of the whole Council of Government.
A true extract.
(Signed)
D. P. GARBIOCH,
Acting Secretary to the Executive Council.
After full discussion, the Council, by five votes to one, agreed to the Acting Auditor General's proposal, and advised his Excellency to accept it.
His Excellency the Governor said that personally he was in favour of complete religious equality based on concurrent endowment, the share of the ecclesiastical grants being proportioned to the number of members of each church, according to the principle established in the West Indian Colonies by Her Majesty's Government some years ago, but looking to the views now expressed in Lord Knutsford's Despatch, he was willing to accept the resolution of the majority of his advisers, and he would accordingly transmit it to the committee of the whole Council of Government.
The honourable the Acting Colonial Secretary said that he would send in a written dissent, and asked that it be attached to these minutes.
Certified to be a true extract.
(Signed)
D. P. GABRIOCH,
Acting Secretary to the Executive Council.
U 61946.
D