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PUBLIC RECORD
༅། ། ། ། ་ ་
OFFICE
Reference:
C.O.882/12
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the time being. It is possible that Mr. Henri (the present Acting Superintendent), after some further experience and a visit to other Colonies and to England, might prove capable of undertaking this task of reorganization, but an obstacle to his permanent appoint- ment would be that as he is a young man and unlikely, on racial grounds, to be found suitable for transfer, he would, if permanently appointed, probably continue in office for a very long time, which would not, I think, be in the best interests of educational progress.
Immigration and Poor Relief.
17. There is little that calls for comment in the report on this Department. I note with pleasure the favourable opinion formed by the Commissioners of the administration of this Department but I doubt if in the time at their disposal they were able to form an adequate impression of the actual working of the system in the rural areas, and I cannot entirely share their confidence as to its efficiency. The system itself, however, is probably the best suited to local conditions, the difficulty in administration being the quality of some of the subordinate personnel. As I am unable, however, to suggest any improvement which would not involve additional expenditure I think the Department may well be left as it is for the time being.
Posts and Telegraphs.
18. The suggestions for the transfer to this Department of the rural Savings Banks, and the receipt of licence moneys and house tax are I think feasible but it is desirable in my opinion that the actual transfer of these functions should be supervised by the Financial Officer whose appointment I have recommended, and I recommend that it should not be attempted during the current year. The transfer of the "Civil Status functions (ie., regis. tration of births, deaths, and marriages) may be feasible but I should like this suggestion to be more fully considered and examined by the Registrar-General before it is adopted. It may involve unsuspected difficulties.
21
The proposal to abolish the privilege of free postage enjoyed by the local newspapers is obviously reasonable as I have already pointed out it will, however, almost certainly arouse fierce opposi- tion in the Press and will add considerably to the difficulties of a task which is already surrounded with obstacles. Justifiable as it is I doubt if the game is worth the candle" when the local repercussions of this perfectly reasonable suggestion are taken into account. I do not propose, however, that the proposal should be abandoned, but suggest that it be left to the Council of Government to decide.
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Forests.
19. There is no section of the report the conclusions of which 1 view with greater scepticism than that relating to forestry policy. It seems to me impossible to accept with confidence conclusions of so far reaching a character as to the future possibilities of forestry in Mauritius reached after the cursory review of the position which was naturally all that was within the powers of the Commissioners in the time at their disposal. Before accepting these conclusions as to the future 1 feel positive that a further review by an expert in forestry would be desirable.
20. Whether these conclusions are right or wrong, however, is for the moment a matter of secondary importance. There is no doubt that if drastic economies are imperative, as they unquestion- ably are, the temporary abandonment of forest development offers a means of economy which does not disorganize essential services, and that if after further examination and review it is subsequently decided that the possibilities are greater than the report indicates, it will be possible to re-establish an organization for forest develop- ment, perhaps, as the Commissioners suggest, on a better footing owing to the complete break with the unfortunate traditions of the past. I agree therefore that as an emergency measure the present schemes of development should be abandoned and the Department reduced to the nucleus staff required for conservation. The duties of protecting river " " mountain reserves,
pas geome- triques", &c., being left to the Police. I am not prepared to say that the Forestry staff required for this purpose can be reduced to quite the scale proposed, viz., a Forest Officer and eight assistants. It is quite possible that the destruction of forests which will ensue will be considerably greater than the Commissioners contemplate and that it may be found necessary to augment the staff which they propose, but it may be preferable to reduce the staff in the first instance to a level below the working minimum and add to it afterwards, if essential, rather than to maintain a staff which might be in excess of actual requirements. I am prepared therefore to agree that the experiment should be tried.
11
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21. The Commissioners' scheme involves the abolition of the post of Assistant Conservator of Forests and the attachment of the Conservator to the Department of Agriculture. If, however, there is to be no forest development I doubt if the services of an officer of Mr. Sale's experience will be needed, and on personal considera- tions it would certainly be a most disheartening position for a skilled and enthusiastic officer to accept. Mr. Sale has made great efforts to put the establishment of the Forestry Department on a sounder basis and his work was beginning to show definite promise of success though it would, of course, take some years to accom- plish the results which he had in view. If he is now to see all the foundations which he has laboriously planned swept away and the