Correspondence
[1928 to 1929]
RELATING TO THE
CONSTITUTION OF CEYLON.
92
C. 53268/28 [No. 1].
Proposes, subject to approval, to appoint Committee named, to investigate the question of delimitation of electoral areas
99
313
No. 1.
THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 23rd January, 1928.) [Answered by No. 2.]
(Confidential.)
SIR,
On Tour, Galle, 28th December, 1927.
I HAVE the honour to address you on the subject of the position of the Legisla- tive Council in regard to the provisions of the Pension Minute.
2. In paragraph 6 of his despatch No. 747 of the 30th November, 1926,* Sir Hugh Clifford stated that the proposed amendments of the Pension Minute relating to commutation of pensions and the grant of death gratuities would be put before the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council and subsequently brought up in a formal motion at a meeting of the Council itself.
3. This despatch, together with your reply, in which you did not comment on the proposed procedure, was published in Sessional Paper XIV of 1927, and Sir Hugh Clifford's proposals have been carried out. The Finance Committee, sitting as the Select Committee on the Budget, was asked to recommend the inclusion of the necessary provision in the Budget, but it was unwilling to do so, pending the introduction of a Accordingly on 18th August, 1927, the Acting motion in the Legislative Council. Colonial Secretary moved in the Legislative Council "That this Council agrees to the The proposals set out in Sessional Paper XIV of 1927 for the introduction of a system of partial commutation of pensions and for the payment of death gratuities." Council, however, adopted an amendment, moved by an Unofficial Member, to the effect that the proposals should be referred to the Salaries Committee. A report of the proceedings is enclosed. The Salaries.Committee is still considering the proposals. 4. Soon after the publication of Sessional Paper XIV of 1927, the Civil Service Association addressed to the Government a letter of which I enclose a copy. Mr. Fletcher, who was then administering the Government, received a deputation from the Association. I enclose a copy of the notes of this interview. At Mr. Fletcher's request the Association thereupon prepared for transmission to you the memorandum which forms the fourth enclosure of this despatch. To complete the correspondence I also forward a copy of a further letter received from the Association immediately after the Legislative Council had deferred action upon the motion brought before it on August 18th, and I attach a copy of a letter from the Ceylon Public Service Association, Association stating, in effect, that the Public Service Association desires to associate itself with the
Civil Service representations made in the Memorandum of the (Enclosure IV).
5. Since my arrival I have given this matter my careful consideration, and I have twice discussed this question, as well as others which affect the Civil Service, with the Committee of their Association. The two questions asked in the memorandum of the 30th July, 1927, are—
(i) whether in the event of the Legislative Council failing to assent to the proposals of the Government in regard to the amendment of the Pension Minute, the Secretary of State and the Governor will nevertheless give effect to these proposals;
(ii) whether an assurance can be given that future amendments of the Pension Minute, and in particular any amendment of the section which deals with the age of retirement, will be dealt with by the Secretary of State and the Governor without reference to the Legislative Council.
6. As regards the first point, the Legislature has not hitherto rejected the pro- posed amendments, but its action has resulted in considerable delay, and it is possible
* C. 23393/26: not printed.
+ Legislative Council Debates, No. 26 of 1927: not reprinted.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
MMLANMC.O.882/11
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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