CO882-(3-4) — Page 568

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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TILLIC.O. 882

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ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

4 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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if he has at least one year's residence in the Colony, and if he possesses one or other of the following qualifications:

(a.) If he be the owner of immoveable property of an annual value of Rs. 500. (b.) If he possesses moveable property equal to Rs. 5,000 at least.

(c.) If he pays an annual rent of Rs. 480 at least, or Rs. 40 a month.

(d.) If he is entitled to a salary of Rs. 960 per annum, or Rs. 80 a month.

The question whether the elect or should be able to read and write, and, if 80, in what language, and whether the voting should be secret or not, should be left to be settled by the electoral law.

6. The colony should be divided into as many electoral colleges as there are districts. 7. The district of Port Louis should have two representatives; and each of the other districts one representative in the Legislative Council.

8. Any elector who is qualified to vote in more than one district, should have the right to vote in each such district.

9. The qualification required to be elected should be the same as that required of olectors.

(Signed) W. NEWTON.

Reporter. Port Louis, 24th August 1882. Presented to and approved by the Initiative Committee on the 1st September 1882.

No. 6.

Lieutenant-GovERNOR F. NAPIER BROOME, C.M.G., to the RIGHT HON. the EARL OF KIMBERLEY. (Received November 28, 1882.)

No. 520.

MY LORD,

Government House, Mauritius, October 31, 1882. ADVERTING to my Despatch* No. 519 by this mail, I have the honour to transmit herewith a letter signed by Mr. Antelme, C.M.G., the senior unofficial member of the Council of Government, and others, objecting to the introduction of an elective element into the Council, but suggesting the addition of three unofficial members.

2. The arguments which this letter advances against the proposal to choose by popular election ten members of the Council of Government are strong and weighty. The signatures to the letter include those of five unofficial members of the Council, and of other gentlemen of substance and standing.

3. In forwarding this petition I have nothing to add to the views I have already expressed on the constitution of the Council of Government.

I have, &c.

(Signed) F. NAPIER BROOME.

The Right Honourable the Earl of Kimberley,

&o.

&c.

&c.

Enclosure in No. 6.

To the Right Honourable the EARL of KIMBERLEY, Secretary of State for the Colonies, &c., &c., &c.

MY LORD,

Port Louis, Mauritius, October 21, 1882.

We, the undersigned respectfully beg to submit to you some observations on a petition about to be forwarded to your Lordship for presentation to Her Majesty the Queen, praying that the present constitution of the Council of Government of this Colony may be changed.

2. Although approving of self-government in principle we do not think that such a system could work well in this Colony.

3. We ground our opinion on the fact that the population of the Island of Mauritius is composed of a great diversity of races of men amongst which there exists no bond of nationality, of patriotism, or of religion, and which equally differ in their language, morals, and usages.

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4. Asiatics composed of Chinese and Indians from Calcutta, Madras, and Bombay, most of whom belong to the Hindoo or the Mahomedan religion constitute the three- fourths of our population, and, with but few exceptions, do not possess any political education.

The Christian part of the inhabitants is divided into different religious denominations and consists of English, naturalized Frenchmen, and of natives of the Island, of English, French, Malagash, African, Indian, and mixed descent, without any bond or traditions of a common origin.

6. The political education of a great number of them is hardly more advanced than

that of the Asiatics.

7. Political struggles in the midst of a population composed of such heterogeneous elements would infallibly degenerate into questions of caste and religion, and this would be the more to be regretted as, under the influence of our present constitutions, class prejudices are gradually dying out.

8. Her Majesty, advised by her ministers, can, better than an elective body consisting of such elements, hold the scales even amongst all the races inhabiting this Island, and choose the more capable and enlightened of them to sit in Council, without any distinc- tion of origin.

9. We are convinced by such experience as there has been opportunity for here, as well as what has occurred in other countries, that the most distinguished men in the Colony, and the most capable of judging and promoting its interests would not desire a place in the Council if it was necessary to expose themselves to a canvas for the suffrages of such an electoral body as has been suggested, so liable to be acted upon by class prejudice and passions and the narrow personal influences which come so power- fully into play in small communities.

10. It is certain that the majority of the inhabitants of this Colony has shown no desire to see its present constitution so suddenly and completely changed, and has taken no part in the agitation having for its object the reorganisation of the Council of Government in the manner proposed.

11. The Indian section of the population has remained quite outside of the movement.

12. The proof that the natives of the Island have not been actuated by any real and serious desire for elective institutions may be inferred from the fact that no district of the Island, has ever sought to establish an elective district council, although the measure had been authorized by Ordinance No. 1 of 1853, confirmed by Her Majesty.

13. Quite lately, the inhabitants of Curepipe, the most populous town of the Colony after Port Louis, refused their adhesion to the proposal made to them of constituting an elective municipality for their town.

14. We are convinced that those who are asking for an elective legislative body would be greatly embarrassed to show that such a system has proved beneficial in countries the population whereof is as heterogeneous as ours.

15. In asking that the inofficial members of the council be named, half by the Crown and half by election, the promoters of the petition have no doubt succeeded in obtaining the immediate adhesion and signatures of many who may not have reflected sufficiently on the practical difficulty in the working of such an incongruous body as the Council of Government would become, and on the untenable position which might soon arise for the inofficial members of it appointed by the Crown.

16. Although opposed to the proposed elective system, we, the undersigned, aro nevertheless desirous of wise and useful reforms.

17. We would, for example, gratefully accept any decision of Her Majesty having for its object to increase the number of the inofficial members of Council by at least three, so as to give them a numerical majority, such a reform 'appearing to us to be required by the progress of the Colony, and by the necessity of giving to the proceedings of the Council more weight and consideration in the minds of the public.

We have, &c.

(Signed)

CHS. ANTELME.

J. FRASER.

C. TIBERY,

FI. DE FROBERVILLE,

J. F. TROTTER,

Protector of Immigrants.

E. DE LAPEYRE,

Dt. Magte., Port Louis. G. DIDIER ST. ÅMAND,

Dt. Magte., Port Louis. R. STEIN.

H. PITOT.

and 90 others.

• No. 5.

R $115.

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