PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
CO.882/12
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
BE
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
184
I. Ciril Service Personal Emoluments.—We would point out that although during the past 7 or 8 years it has been found necessary by practically the whole of the planting, banking, commercial. and general public, to reduce the salaries of their employees or servants from time to time, the salaries paid to the members of the Civil Service of this Colony have remained unaltered and even. in certain cases, been increased.
We would further point out that, even on the proposed reduction of 20 per cent., the salaries of the Civil Servants of this Colony will still be on a higher basis than those prevailing prior to 1914 especially so is this obvious in the case of the lower paid members. We would quote from the Financial Commissioners' Report, their own words (page 168):-
"The Civil Services stand on an island of prosperity in the flood of depression. If they are not to become a privileged caste their pay also must be adjusted to present day com- ditions".
We therefore recommend a general temporary levy at a flat rate
of 20 per cent. on all salaries, except the Governor's which having already recently been reduced by 20 per cent. we propose should be maintained at its present figure.
II. Increase of Revenue from Customs.-If the resolutions already moved by the Collector of Customs and the annexed recom- mendations (Annexure A) are, in the main, adopted, we estimate that at least Rs.400,000 extra revenue will accrue to Government. III. Licences.-We accept an increase in Licence Duties and consider that the cost of the licences above a certain figure should be readjusted so as to bring in extra revenue of approximately Rs.100,000.
IV. Other Charges. We arrive at our estimate of savings of Rs.360,000 under this Head by the annexed suggestions as to retrenchment to be carried out in the general expenditure of the Colony. (Annexure B.)
V. Retrenchment.-We have adopted the figure of Rs.100,000. which we understand to be Government's own estimation of the net savings to be effected by the abolition of posts already carried out.
VI. Tax on Loans other than Government.-We recommend that the tax on loans be increased from 0.15 per cent. to 0.50 per cent. which would bring in additional revenue of Rs.150,000.
VII. Tar on Government Loans.-We recommend the imposition of 10 per cent. tax on interest accruing from Government loans issued locally and estimate this would yield about Rs.97,000.
The reason why we differentiate between private loans and Government loan is that, whereas in the case of the former such loans are more or less of a speculative nature when rates of interest agreed to are frequently obliged to be modified in a descending scale, if not entirely waived, in the case of Government loans the security is gilt-edged.
185
VIII. Toe on Wines Manufactured Locally.-We recommend the imposition of an Excise duty of 0.50es. per litre on all wines manu- factured in the Colony. This, we think, should yield approximately Rs.100,000 additional revenue. Much of the locally manufactured wine is of a spirituous nature and alleged in many cases to be noxious. It is possible that the imposition of the Excise Duty we propose may lead to a considerable diminution in the manufacture of local wines should such prove to be the case, it is, we submit, fair to assume that the deficit will be made up by increased con- sumption of rum and of imported wines or spirits.
IX. Pensions.-The Financial Commissioners in their report (page 180) suggested that pensions should be reduced by a cut of 5 per cent. Having recommended a temporary levy of 20 per cent. on salaries, we recommend a temporary levy of 10 per cent. on pensions, and estimate a saving of approximately Rs.130,000 under this heading.
We have confined our recommendations to such items as, in our view, will effect immediate economy and prompt inofease in revenue without entailing any considerable increase of staff for controlling same, with its inevitable increased expenditure, but we venture to call Your Excellency's attention to the possibility of deriving con- siderable revenue or savings from the following source.
Collection of Revenue (Customs and Excise).—We feel con- vinced that with better supervision both at the Customs and through the Excise branch very considerable additional revenue could be collected. In at least three Government Departments, the Customs, the Public Works, and the Revenue, frauds are prevalent. It is evident that a huge number of frauds and thefts must be going on without detection.
Many taxes and licences remain uncollected. Illicit distillation is rapidly getting out of control and the really serious effort made by Government to stop its further spreading was only imposed during three months.
We would further point out that if the Dependency of Rodrigues were authorized to issue its own postage stamps, this Dependency would probably become practically self supporting, such postage stamps being not only used for franking purposes but would find a ready sale to philatelists for inclusion in their collection,
We would further suggest to Your Excellency's earnest considera- tion the desirability of calling in the whole of the existing currency issue of Mauritius notes and the issue of fresh currency. There has been no calling in of the notes issued since 1876 and we think that it is fair to assume that not a small percentage of the present note issue will be found to have been destroyed or to be non-presentable. What this percentage might amount to, we think could probably be approximately gauged by actuaries conversant with such matters in England.
163
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
CO.882/12
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
بلسيليسا
LTCO.882/12
Reference :-
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO