trade unions should be given at least three of the ten nominated seats and preferably four if it would not disturb the racial balance of the Council. I consider also that the property qualification should be brought into review after a limited period of.experience and that it should be accepted at the moment only as a step to à wider democratic franchise.
(g) As regards the point raised in the second sub-paragraph of paragraph 29 of your despatch, I consider, on balance, that it would bé désirable that the nominating bodies should be designated in the relevant constitutional instrument, I assume however that actual appointments would be made by the Governor after such nomination.
(h) I should be glad if you would confirm that the reference to "the requisite assent of the Legislature in the case of new taxation" in paragraph 34 of your despatch means that the authority of the Legislature would be necessary before the Municipality embarks on a new field of taxation not allotted to it in the first instance, I should find it difficult to agree that without the assent of the Legislature the Municipality could not increase the rates of existing taxation within its allotted field as this would be in conflict with the fundamental principal of genuine financial.responsibility.
3. As regards the question raised in paragraph 36 of your despatch I consider that commercial auditors would be preferable as marking the independence of the Council from the Government but agree that the appointment of the auditors should be subject to the approval of the Governor.
40
As regards paragraph 41 of your despatch I am inclined to think that it would be best to start the Council with the services of a seconded Government officer as Town Clerk but that, soon after its inception, the Council should be moved to ask for an experienced Town Clerk from this country. If the request for a Town Clerk from this country were made at the instance of the Council he might be more likely to enjoy their good will.
50
I also agree with your proposals for decreasing the number of official members of the Legislative Council to 7 and for providing for direct nomination of four of the eight unofficial members,
شم
Page 485Page 486
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.