CO537-2188 — Page 316

asked to report, inter alia, on the steps to be

taken to avoid wasteful duplication of services in

the administration of the Colony's urban and

rural areas,

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I should wish to be consulted on the

Commission's recommendations before any decisions

are taken on then,

(h) Financial powers of the Municipal Council

(paragraph 34). I would ask that the Commission,

when appointed, be reminded of the need for making

specific provision, so far as may be necessary,`for

the the application to the Municipal finances of that

measure of external control which it is necessary

to exercise over the Oolony's finances whilst it 18 in receipt of financial assistance from H.M.G.

and for the carrying out of the Colonial Government'

responsibility in respect of any scheme under the

Colonial Development and welfare Act, 1940, with

which the lunicipality may become concerned.

As regards the question of the powers of the

Municipal Council in the matter of taxation, whilst

there is no objection to the municipality acting

as agents of the Central Government for the

collection of specified taxes, or to the proceeds of

specified taxes being assigned to the Municipality

to meet expenditure, or to the Municipality being

empowered to fix the fees payable in respect of

licences etc., issued by it, I desire to make it

clear, to avoid any possible misunderstanding, that

it would in my view be open to objection if the

Legislature were to delegate to the unicipality

any authority to levy taxes or fix the rate of taxes.

(1) Municipal loan projects (paragraph 35).

I confirm that any loan projects of the Municipality

should be submitted to and receive the sanction of

and that I would wish them

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as well.

/(5) Anait