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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

TILLC.O. 882

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

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the same allowances as Regimental Medical Officers, have since been permitted to draw an additional allowance of half as much again. A Staff Surgeon now draws allowances equal to those of a full Colonel, and exceeding those of a Lieutenant-Colonel in command of a regiment. Command allowances have also in every instance been increased. The Ordnance Department, which never before received Staff allowances, have since received them; and it was only in 1857 that island allowances were granted to them. An entirely new Department, and one apparently unnecessary for any practical purpose in the Colony (the Purveyor's Department) has been created, and been provided for at the expense of the Colony; while the surgeons, who had previously, without their increased allowances, performed the duties proposed to be assigned to this Depart- ment, will probably with their increased allowances, cease to do so.

Some of the charges thus introduced, at variance not only with the known and expressed wishes of the Legislature, but with the settled views of the Executive Government, as laid down in Sir Henry Ward's Minute, may probably be owing to the separation of the two offices of Secretary for the Colonies and Secretary for War, which were at one time held by the same Minister, who in considering any alteration of the Military Establishment, necessarily had in view at the same time the state and the interests of the Colony. This separation may probably account for the apparent absence of all connection between the recent military appoint- ments and arrangements, and the requirements and capabilities of the Colony. On no other supposition for instance, can the appointment of a military chaplain at Colombo be explained, where the existing establish- ments provided a chaplain to the troops, with an adequate salary and an almost total immunity from civil duties. On no other supposition can the creation of new Departments be accounted for, where with nearly double the strength, and without any of the allowances, the affairs of the command were equally well administered by the then existing establish-

ments.

The Committee would now suggest, for the consideration of the Council, whether after the repeated and most urgent appeals måde since 1847, to the Secretary for the Colonies, as well as the Local Government, and in view of the apparent inattention on the part of both Governments to this most reasonable request, they are prepared to sanction the various items now proposed on account of Military Expenditure. The greater part of the expenditure in respect of allowances is still beyond the control of the Council; and the items submitted for their consideration in the present Bill in respect of Rent and Transport amount only to 2,5027, or about one-fortieth of the entire annual expenditure. Until, however, a thorough and careful revision of the whole of the establishments has taken place, it is impossible to determine how far the items now submitted for sanction are reasonable, or consistent with the requirements of the Colony. Such a revision will also enable the Council to point out to the Secretary of State that much of the Military Expenditure in the Colony is incurred for Imperial purposes, in maintaining garrisons and fortifications, espe- cially at Galle and Trincomalie, which without being essentially necessary to the internal safety of the Colony, are of the last importance as military stations of the Empire, and towards the maintenance of which the Imperial Government ought in fairness to contribute a reasonable proportion. The Committee are inclined to agree in the recommendation of the Sub- Committee of 1860, and would suggest the omission of these items,--not with any wanton disposition to deprive the military of their reasonable emoluments, but simply with a view to secure to the Colony the legitimate means of revising and regulating its expenditure in accordance with its revenues and its requirements, a result which, it is believed, may be attained without by any means sacrificing the interests or the comfort of either the officer or the soldier,❤

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• The Auditor-General, while fully concurring with the rest of the Committee as to the pro- priety of a revision of the whole military expenditure, with a view to the exercise of greater economy, desires to express his opinion that any modifications of allowances should be made prospective, and not apply to any officer now in the enjoyment of them.

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No. 13.-WORKS AND BUILDINGS.

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COMMANDING ROYAL ENgineer.

The vote of 1,1341. for "General Service" is larger than that of previous years; but considering that it has been found necessary to grant votes in the Supplementary Supply Bill, the Committee are unwilling to reduce it. It includes the salaries and allowances of workmen employed in the various military stations throughout the island.

The item of 1,4001. for building quarters for married soldiers in Colombo is only part of an estimate of 4,4007.; and it is one which commends itself to the Committee, as providing accommodations which are absolutely necessary to the comfort of the wives and children of married soldiers.

The item of 1,0001. for a new hospital for Native troops at Trinco- malie, is also part of an estimate of 1,552 48. 3d., and is justified by a similar consideration for the comforts of the soldier.

The vote of 1561. 16s. 10d. for repairing No. 9 Officers' Quarters at Trincomalie, is part of an estimate of 3561. 168. 10d., and should be increased to 2007., as 1561. 168. 10d. only will be expended on the vote of 2001. granted by the last Supplementary Supply Bill.

The Committee cannot but point out here the great increase in the expenditure under the head of "Commanding Royal Engineer," and the large proportion it bears to the Civil Expenditure for works and buildings. The former, in the present Schedule, amounts to 11,371. 15s. 4d., as against 14,1617. Os. 7 d. required for civil buildings. The following Table gives a comparative statement of expenditure under the head of "Military Works and Buildings " for the last eleven years:→→

Military.

Total.

Supplementary.

£

d.

1850

7 0 10

1851

Supply.

£ 4,754 0 0 4,465 0 0

d.

£ & d. 4,761 0 10

4,465 0 0

1852

4,309 0

4,309 0 0

1853

6,800 8 0

6,800 8 0

1854

2,445 6 54

5,122 0 0

7,567 6 54

1855

1856

807 2 4 850 0 0

3,530 9 8

4,345 12 0

4,023 7 9

4,878 7 9

I 857

2,888 17 2

1858

1,980 12 10

1859

1860

1861

2,488 15 0 2,271 4 9 1,545 17 5

6,624 3 6 10,797 15 11 13,005 16

8 7,882 9 0 6,104 0 0

9,513 0 8 12,728 8 9 15,494 11

8+ 10,153 13 9 7,649 17 5

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No. 17.-Colonial COMMISSARIAT.

DEPUTY COMMISSARY GENERAL.

The increase in this item is chiefly owing to a new arrangement by which rice is now supplied to the Native troops at a fixed rate of 2d. per measure, in place of the former arrangement of paying them the difference between the 2d. and the market price."

The Committee have agreed to reduce the sum of 24,000%. included in the proposed vote for beef, bread, &c., to 23,500/

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REGIMENTS SERVING IN Ceylon.

CEYLON RIFLE BEGIMENT.

For the 5001, which is charged under the head "Contingencies," an equivalent sum has been deducted from the 24,000 which has been charged under "Colonial Commissariat."

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