CO882-(3-4) — Page 438

(Eastern, No. 34.)

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference:

C.O. 882

4 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

SIR,

No. 1.

GOVERNOR SIR J. R. LONGDEN, K.C.M.G., to the RIGHT Honourable Sir MICHAEL HICKS BEACH, BART. (Received March 1st 1879.)

(No. 32.)

Ceylon, 27th January 1879.

I HAVE the honour to submit herewith for the signification of Her Majesty's pleasure an authenticated copy of an Ordinance passed by the Legislative Council, intituled "An Ordinance to make better provision for the due collection of the tax duty or share due to government upon grain grown in this island."-No. 11, 1878.

2. I also enclose a copy of the Queen's Advocate's report upon the Ordinance.

3. By this Ordinance, the farming out or renting of the grain taxes is put an end to absolutely, but the taxes themselves remain payable, and machinery is provided for the 2. collection in money of the grain taxes throughout the island. The tax may either be compounded for a term of years at a fixed annual payment to be paid whether the land is cultivated or not, or the tax may be assessed and paid only when there is a crop at Great encouragement is given to compound for terms of the option of the cultivator. years, and this system, which bas long prevailed in the central and eastern provinces, and to a less extent in other parts of the island, will probably become general in all places where the supply of water is perpetual and the cultivation continuous. But in those parts of the country where, from want of water and other causes, the cultivation of the land is intermittent there will probably be no composition.

It was

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4. The enclosed Ordinance has received the most careful consideration. drawn up by Mr. Cayley, the Queen's Advocate, at my request immediately after the receipt of your despatch, No. 147 of the 9th of July last, and to him are due the best thanks of the Government for the great care which he took in framing the Ordinance, as well as for the readiness with which he accepted and incorporated the various amendments and suggestions which were offered by the practical men whose advice was sought, so as to produce a good working measure, a measure which would be acceptable to the people for whose benefit it has been enacted, as well as just to the Government. Mr. Cayley took charge of the Bill also when it was being passed through the Legislature.

5. The Bill was, in the first instance, submitted, according to custom, to the Executive Council, and at one of the meetings of the Council the Government agents of the Western, Central, Southern, and North-western Provinces, and other experienced officers attended the Council to give practical advice on the best method to be adopted After the Bill had been finally agreed in providing for the just collection of the taxes. to in the Executive Council, it was introduced by the Queen's Advocate into the Legislative Council on the 9th of October, (notice having been previously given) in a speech which was translated into Sinhalese and into Tamil and widely circulated through the island.

I enclose a copy of this speech. Considering the importance of the measure, it was deemed proper to allow ample time for the members of the Council to make themselves acquainted with the Bill, and it was not, therefore, read a second 3. time until the 6th of November. On that day most of the unofficial members spoke generally in favour of the measure, but, as might be expected, criticised many of the details. The second reading was carried without a division, and the Bill was referred to a strong sub-committee composed of the following members :-

The Colonial Secretary.

The Queen's Advocate.

The Acting Government Agent of the Western Province. The Principal Collector of Customs.

Sir Coomarasawmy, member for the Tamil community. Mr. Obeyesekere, member for the Sinhalese community. Mr. Van Langenberg, representing the Burgher interest. Mr. Leechman, representing the Chamber of Commerce,

• No. 9 of Eastern No. 26, October 1878.

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