CO537-6046 — Page 111

No.57 on 54145/4/49

than were contemplated in yond despatch/

- 3 -

be drafted and enacted, electoral districts delimited,

and the whole machinery for holding elections set up.

In this connection, I am aware from my discussions with

you that it would be difficult under present circumstances

to make the staff with sufficient experience available

for this work.

5. I note that your proposals do not contemplate

any further development of the Urban Council at this

stage until certain difficulties which are dealt with

in paragraphs 28 to 30 of your despatch under reply have

been resolved. But if it were decided to adopt a system

of election to the Legislature on some such alternative

basis as that proposed in paragraph 4 above, I feel that

it would be a matter of considerable importance that in

the management of Urban Council affairs the election of

members, which has, I understand, been in abeyance since

the last war, should be reintroduced and the number of

elected representatives possibly increased. I should

also like to see the franchise of the Urban Council

extended to include British subjects even if they do not

qualify under the provisions of Section 3 of Ordinance

jez

No. 7 of 1935. Further, I would urge that early steps

should be taken to devolve on the Urban Council to the

greatest extent consistent with the avoidance of

overlapping and duplication, the real responsibility for Urban affairs. If the basis for the appointment of members

of the Urban Council were suitably widened, there might be

advantage in associating that Council with the process for

the selection af members to the Legislative Council.

67 I need hardly stress the fact that experience in

local government work of this kind affords the best

possible training for membership of the legislative body

with its wider responsibilities, and I should hope that

when replying to this despatch you might be able to

put forward constructive proposals with the above

objectives in view. So much time has already elapsed

/between