173
FUBLIC
TLLITI
RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O.882/12
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BÀ REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- “COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
204
ployees. Draft Estimates at present include further retrenchment of about 170 on railway, 40 in Forest Department and 30 in Public Works Department in all about Rs. 250,000, but against this must be set increased outlay on pensions and gratuities which have not yet been fully calculated. In case of Public Works Department actual immediate estimated outlay in this connexion more than balance immediate saving. It is essential that reorganization should continue but in view of great stress of poverty and unemployment I feel most strongly that Government should make every effort to mitigate the severity of the process and spread it over a longer period. If this can be left to my discretion I hope to be able to do this by retiring firstly men from key positions for reorganization and spread remainder over the year and still balance the Estimates. In case of the railway this can be done without exceeding deficit of Rs. 300,000 anticipated by Financial Commissioners. Provided Estimates are made to balance may I use my discretion as to retirements and discharges. I am allowing for Rs.700,000 from income tax in the first would practically (? group omitted) but this is of course a surmise only. The question of discharging men into unemployment without allowance or on a dole of Rs. 5 per month is perhaps most whole position and much depends how it is handled. With reference to remittance of balance of loan actual remittance had better not be made until I telegraph again.
C. 93921/32 [No. 68].
No. 72.
Telegram from the Secretary of State for the Colonies to the Governor of Mauritius.
(Sent 11.45 a.m., 19th May, 1932.)
No. 92. Confidential. Your telegram No. 82. It is fully understood that schemes of retrenchment which I have approved or may approve in principle will be carried out in such stages as you consider practicable and desirable in all the local circumstances.— CUNLIFFE-LISTER.
No. 71.
C. 93921/32 [No. 72].
205
No. 73.
Despatch from the Governor of Mauritius to the Secretary of
State for the Colonies.
(Received 23rd May, 1932.)
(Confidential.)
SIR,
[Answered by No. 76.]
GOVERNMENT HOUSE,
PORT LOUIS.
18th April, 1932.
With reference to the correspondence noted in the margin and in
(1) Conf. continuation of my despatch No. 138 of the 14th instant, § forward-
desp., ing by air mail copies of memoranda received from the Unofficial 19/2/32.* Members of Council, I have the honour to submit the following (2) Tel. from further observations on and explanation of the comments contained Governor, in the telegrams quoted on the proposed arrangements for giving No. 63 of
effect to the recommendations of the Financial Commission.
2. The Unofficial Members had been in consultation since receipt of the communication contained in your telegram No. 30 of the 20th February as to the possibility of providing alternative means for balancing the Budget. They had naturally found the task one of great difficulty in the absence of information as to the full pro- posals of the Financial Commissioners, and there was at first not very much progress made. The reply to their further communica- tion of the 2nd March (my telegram No. 38)¶ contained in your telegram of the 10th March,** together with information furnished in a summary of the Financial Commissioners' recommendations distributed on the 27th February, brought slightly improved pro- gress but it was not until after the publication of the actual report of the Commission on the 21st March that an agreed programme was framed. There was however as will be observed from the documents transmitted in my despatch No. 138 of the 14th April, a division of opinion between the Members for Port Louis and their colleagues, the former being unwilling to commit themselves to proposals for further taxation, and being unprepared to agree to a levy on Civil Service salaries of the lower grades at the flat rate of 20 per cent. proposed by the majority.
* No. 59. + C. 84507/31 [No. 41]: not printed.
f No. 67.
|| C. 93921/32 [No. 22]; not printed. 1 No. 54.
‡ No. 64.
** No. 55.
16/4/32.t
(3) Tel. from Governor, No. 64. of 18/4/32.1