14,893.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
T
Reference :-
CO. 885
12 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO
MY LORD,
No. 278.
(STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.)
LAW OFFICERS to COLONIAL OFFICE.
We were honoured with your Lordship's commands signified in Mr. Bramston's
Temple, 21st August 1882. letter of the 9th instant, transmitting to us for our consideration copies of the corre- spondence noted in the margin regarding the payment of expenses of the prosecution of a native of Manila named Perman, at Singapore, for murder on the high seas.
That your Lordship would be much obliged if we would advise you whether the costs of such a prosecution, which was conducted under the 12th & 13th Vict. c. 96., are a charge necessarily imposed by Statute on the funds of the Colony, from which therefore the Treasury could not relieve them from a vote of Parliament, as was stated in the letter from the Treasury of the 7th ultimo.
In obedience to your Lordship's commands we have the honour to
Report
That there is some ambiguity in the expression used in the Treasury letter, "from which therefore the Treasury cannot relieve them from a vote of Parliament."
We assume that the meaning is that the Treasury cannot relieve from the necessity of obtaining a vote of Parliament if the costs of the prosecution in question are to be paid out of Imperial funds.
Upon this assumption we think the view taken by the Treasury is correct, that the costs are made a charge upon the funds of the Colony, and that the Treasury has no power, without the sanction of a vote of Parliament, to repay any of the costs to the Colony.
The Right IIon. the Earl of Kimberley,
&o.
&c.
&c.
We have, &c., (Signed) HENRY JAMES.
FARRER HERSCHELL.
12916.-258. 25.-1984.
1