Miscellanems
A VIT
CONFIDENTIAL.
On Propositions to Reform our Colonial System.
THE following opinions are likely to find advo cates in Parliament:
1. That our Colonial system requires reform.
2. That the government of our colonies by a Secretary of State directly representing the Crown is unsatisfactory, and that a Board of Commis- sioners should be substituted.
3. That previously a Commission should issue to inquire into the administration of Her Majesty's Colonial Possessions, to remove causes of com- government, plaint, to diminish the cost of Colonial
and to give free scope to individual enterprise in colonizing.
4. That our colonies should govern themselves; should possess the power of local self-government. 5. That the powers of local self-government should alone be limited "by the prerogative of regulating relations with foreign Powers," which the Crown is to be allowed to retain. This opinion seems to involve the choice and election of Gover- nors, the unfettered control over taxation and expen- diture, over the duties of customs and excise, the land fund, the civil list, and all the consequences of these powers, so far as they relate to the internal interests of the colony.
It is not necessary to point out the inconsistencies or the effect of these powers. Mr. Godley in his published letter maintains this doctrine. These opinions are entertained by those who still profess a desire to maintain a Colonial Empire.
6. That colonies are a costly incumbrance, and that our policy should now be, to leave them to
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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
C.O.
Reference --
885
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
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