PUBLIC
RECORD OFFICE
Reference
། ། ། ། ། ། iMiMC.O.882/12
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BF REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- | COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
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The systems of registration and of mortgages in Mauritius are of French derivation and still retain their original character materially unchanged. Registration of Acts, the latter term com- prising all written documents which may be produced in Court in connexion with legal proceedings, is intended for the double purpose of raising revenue and (in the case of private Acts as dis- tinguished from judicial Acts signed by properly qualified public officers) of ensuring their authenticity. All Acts that are required to be registered are subject to fixed dues thereon, and it is one of the duties of the Registrar-General's Department to see that any document presented for registration bears the appropriate revenue stamp and, if not, to assess and collect the amount of the duty. In the case of succession declarations this is an important revenue function. Practically the whole of this duty, which for the current year is estimated to reach Rs.450.000, as the result of an increase made last year in the scale of charges, is assessed on the Registrar- General's valuation of the property affected. Another function which the Registrar-General discharges through this branch of his department is that of Registrar of Public Companies.
The Mortgage Branch is not a revenue office but is concerned solely with the protection of vendors, purchasers, and others in- terested in the ownership of real estate. The creation, transfer. or devolution of all interests in real property must be attested by the inscription of an exact copy of the effective document in the records of the Department, and the Registrar-General in his capa- city of Conservator of Mortgages is personally liable to indemnify all persons who may be injured by an omission from, or mistake in, his records. This liability subsists against himself or his heirs for twenty years after he has laid down his office.
The Civil Status Branch is responsible through its local officers for the publication and celebration of all civil marriages, the record of all births, deaths, and marriages and the carrying out of the census. We have found no case where the extent of these duties justifies the appointment of a whole-time clerk, and we recommend that the system of employing dispensers for this work should be extended. We have no objection to the payment to these dispensers of an annual allowance of Rs.300. In certain cases this work can be entrusted to the Deputy Postmaster.
The Archives Branch has the control of all historical records and documents belonging to the Colony, other than those preserved in other public departments for reference in connexion with current business.
14. As will be gathered from the foregoing outline of the functions of the Registrar-General's Department, its work involves a very large amount of clerical copying which must be performed to a degree of meticulous accuracy. We saw no reason to think, how- ever, that the staff maintained for this purpose is excessive or that
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the work could be organized on more efficient lines. The Registrar- General's own personal responsibilities are exceptionally heavy even for the Head of a Department, and we do not consider that his emoluments, which include a pensionable allowance of Rs.1,500 in addition to his salary of Rs. 13,500, are excessive according to present standards of Civil Service salaries in Mauritius.
We consider, however, that both in this case and in that of the Assistant Registrar-General, whose emoluments consist of Rs.8,000 salary and Rs.1,000 pensionable allowance, the salary and allowance should be consolidated as salary, and be subject to the general revision of Civil Service pay which we have recommended elsewhere (see chapter XIII).
The service clerical post in this department which is at present filled by a clerk on the Class I General Clerical scale Rs.6,200— 7,200 is one of the posts which we have proposed should be regraded under the general reorganization as that of Chief Clerk with a special fixed salary of Rs.6,000 (see Appendix I).
Police.
15. The strength of the Mauritius Police Force now stands at 603 and is composed as follows:-
1 Inspector-General
1 Deputy Inspector
General
8 Inspectors
1 Paymaster
8 Sub-Inspectors
11 Sergeant-Majors
17 Cadets
43 Sergeants
52 Corporals
438 Constables
1 Bandmaster
2 Band Sergeants
1 Band Corporal
19 Bandsmen
Salary. Rs.
13,500
9,000
6 at 5,200-500-7,200
2 at 5,000
4,000-500-6,000
3,600-400-4,800
2 at 3,180
3 at 3,000
6 at 2,800
1,380-420-2,100
18 at 2,100
25 at 1,620 1,380
109 at 1,200 120 at
1,020
209 at 780
3,600-400--4,800
1 at 2,100
1 at 1,620
1,380
5 at 1,200
8 at 1,020
6 at 780