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PUBLIC RECORD

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Reference:

TRET

C.O. 882

26

Enclosure 1 of Despatch No. 185, May 12, 1879.

XXXVI.

GRAIN TAX BILL, 1878.

SPEECH of the Hon. the QUEEN's Advocate when introducing the BILL in the LEGIS- LATIVE COUNCIL, and the EVIDENCE taken and PAPERS laid before the SUB- СОММІТТЕЕ.

GRAIN TAX Ordinance, 1878.

Minutes of a Meeting, November 9, 1878.

The Hon. the GOVERNMENT Agent,

Western Province.

The Hon. the QUEEN'S ADVOCATE.

The Hon. the COLLECTOR OF CUS-

TOMS.

PRESENT:

The Hon. Sir M. COOMARA Swamy,

Kt.

The Hon. J. P. OBEYESEKARA.

The Hon. G. B. LEECHMAN.

The Hon. J. DOUGLAS, C.M.G., in the Chair.

Resolved that evidence be obtained from witnesses on the following points:

1. Whether compulsory commutation is practicable in the case of fields which have produced a crop seven times at least in the last 14 years ?

2. Or whether an option between grain commutation and grain tax should be given to the cultivators in all cases?

3. Whether seven years is a fair limit to fix ?

4. How many fold of yield will cover the cost of raising the crop from the time of the first ploughing to the time of removing the paddy from the threshing floor?

5. In what manner it can be best ascertained whether or not the yield of a field is three-fold of the quantity sown ?

6. What is the best method of ascertaining the actual crops of any one field, and their value for the last 14 years; and also the best method of estimating the probable value of the produce of any one field when cultivated in the ordinary course of husbandry ?

7. What is the best time to fix upon for the payment of commutation ?

Resolved, that the following witnesses should be examined :—

A. B. Wikkramaratne, Kachcheri Mudaliyar, Matara.

J. V. D. Dlangakon, Mudaliyar of Weligam Korale, Matara.

Jonathan Silva, Proctor, Matara.

Jas. Karanaratne, M.M.C., Proctor, Galle.

D. C. H. Bandaranayaka, Mudaliyar of Siyane Korale.

Dandris Gunaratne, Mudaliyar of Rayigam Korale.

D. O. P. Dias, President of Alutkuru Korale.

H. Dias, Esq., Advocate.

The Maha Mudaliyar.

S. Jayetilleke, Mudaliyar, Kurunegala.

Halpe, Ratemahatınaya.

Somanadar, President, Batticaloa South.

John Crowther, Batticaloa.

The Irrigation Vanniya, Batticaloa.

A. Mayilvakanam, Koppay, Jaffna.

Arumukam Navalar, Jaffna.

The Kachcheri Mudaliyar, Jaffna.

Maniyakar of Valikamam West.

The Government Agents :—Mr. Hume, Mr. Twynam, Mr. Sharpe, Mr. Dickson,

Mr. Moir.

Robert de Saram, Wolfendahl, Colombo.

27

No. 5.

GOVERNOR SIR J. R. LONGDEN, K.C.M.G., to the RIGHT HONOURABLE SIR MICHAEL HICKS BEACH, BART. (Received, 21st July 1879.) (No. 211.)

The Pavilion, Kandy, Ceylon, 5th June, 1879.

SIR,

1 HAVE the honour to inform you that I have appointed Mr. Robert William Durand Moir, Government Agent of the Eastern Province, and Mr. Augustin Rawlins Dawson, Assistant Government Agent of Mannar, and Acting Assistant Government Agent of Ratnapura, to be Grain Commissioners under the Grain Tax Ordinance 11 of

1878.

2. As soon as the Commissioners have prepared the necessary forms and schedules, Part II. of the Ordinance will be brought into operation by successive proclamations in district after district, and both, or one of the Commissioners as may be found in practice necessary, will be appointed for each district so proclaimed.

3. I shall from time to time report the progress made with the work.

4. I may observe with reference to the Commissioners, that they have been selected for their practical knowledge of the methods of commutation already in operation, their perfect acquaintance with the native languages, and the confidence which I have reason to believe is reposed in them by the people. Mr. Moir is conversant with the language of the Tamil, and Mr. Dawson with that of the Sinhalese speaking population, and thus the Commissioners will not be entirely dependent upon interpreters.

The Right Hon. Sir M. E. Hicks Beach, Bart., M.P.,

&c.

&e.

&c.

No. 6.

I have, &c. (Signed)

J. R. LONGDEN,

Governor.

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE SIB MICHAEL HICKS BEACH, Bart., to Governor SIR J. R. LONGDEN, K.C.M.G.

No. 220.

SIR,

Downing Street, 13th August 1879.

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 211 of the 5th June, and to convey my approval of the appointment of Messrs. R. D, Moir and A. R. Dawson as Grain Commissioners under Ordinance 11 of 1878.

2. These two gentlemen appear to possess the qualities requisite for the important duties which they will be called upon to fulfil, and I trust that the posts which they are for the time being vacating in the Civil Service, will be adequately filled by acting officers during the period for which Messrs. Moir and Dawson will be engaged under the new Ordinance.

I shall be glad to be informed what arrangeinents have been made in regard to these acting appointments, and also as to the payment of the Commissioners, whose normal salaries will, I understand, from your Despatch No. 32,† be drawn by the officers selected to act for them.

M. E. HICKS BRACH.

Governor

Sir J. Longden, K.O.M.G.

섬.

(Signed)

• No. 6.

† No. 1.

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

28

No. 7.

GOVERNOR SIR J. R. LONGDEN, K.C.M.G., to the RIGHT HONOURABLE SIR MICHAEL HICKS BEÁCH, BART.

(No. 357.) Civil.

SIR,

(Received 11th October 1879.)

Queen's House, Colombo, Ceylon,

10th September 1879.

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch of the 13th wit., No. 220, conveying your approval of the appointment of Mr. R. D. Moir and Mr. A. R. Dawson to act as Grain Commissioners under the Ordinance 11 of 1878, and desiring me to report the arrangements made for the duties of the offices from which they have been detached.

2. In my Despatch No. 341 of the 21st of June 1879, I reported that I had appointed Mr. G. E. Worthington to act as Government Agent for the Eastern Province while Mr. Moir was engaged on the Commission. Mr. Worthington is next in seuiarity in the service to Mr. Moir. He was appointed a writer in 1859, and was Assistant Government Agent successively of Kurunegala, Trincomalie, and Kegalle from 1868 to 1871, since which time he has been employed in judicial offices. It will be seen from the record of his service that he has never been in charge of a Province, but I saw no reason to pass him over in making a temporary appointment in which his qualifications for the permanent charge of a Province would be tested.

3. Mr. Dawson was appointed a Commissioner upon his recent return from leave in England, and the arrangements which were made for his duties when he went on leave were not altered.

4. The Commissioners, according to the arrangement proposed in my Despatch No. 32 of the 27th of January, draw salaries equal to those they were drawing before their appointment to the Grain Commission, and provision is made for their salaries in the supplementary estimates for the present and the regular estimates for the ensuing year. Provision is also made for the Clerks whom it has been necessary to appoint and for the incidental expenses of the Commission. The total amount provided for this service in the estimate for 1880 is Rs. 80,000. This includes the salaries and travelling allowaÝCHI of the two Commissioners, which are estimated at Rs. 19,300.

5. The Commissioners are carrying out the commutation successfully in the Western Province, and on the completion of their work in that Province I will submit a report

of the result.

The Right Honourable

Sir M. E. Hicks Beach, M.P.

I have &c. (Signed)

J. R. LONGDEN,

Governor,

No. 8.

THE RIGHT Honourable Sin MICHAEL HICKS BEACH, Barr,, to Governon Sin J. R. LONGDEN, K.C.M.G.