CO882-(3-4) — Page 579

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference:

mwimmilu TIITTIC.O. 882

4 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

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3. In approaching the consideration of the very material change which has been proposed the first question which suggests itself is, whether the existing Constitution has failed to meet the requirements of the Colony and to discharge its functions efficiently. The answer to this question has been clearly stated by one of the ablest members of the Council, Mr. Antelme, in his letter of July 17th, 1882. It is beyond doubt that the Colony has prospered under its present constitution, that all interests have been carefully looked after by the Council, and that there has been no serious complaint from any class of the community of injustice or neglect. I avail myself with pleasure of this oppor- tunity of adding that the Mauritius Council of Government has long been conspicuous among the legislatures of Crown Colonies for the ability and assiduity which it has devoted to the public business, and it would be difficult to name another Colonial Legis- lative Council in which the unofficial members have so usefully and actively co-operated The request for a new Constitution is, therefore, not with the Executive Government. based upon any sufficient evidence of the failure of that which now exists.

4. But, even if it had been shown that the Legislature of Mauritius had not adequately represented and guarded the various interests of the Island, the present composition of the population would, in the opinion of Her Majesty's Government, constitute a grave impediment to the transfer of legislative power to a Council in which the Crown would command only one-third of the votes. The Indian population of Mauritius, numbering about 250,000 out of a total number of 360,000, has immigrated into the Island, with the sanction of the Government of India, in full reliance upon that pro- tection which is secured to it under the existing Constitution.

5. I am glad to know that some of these Indian immigrants have acquired good positions in the Island, and would be qualified to exercise the franchise intelligently if it were conferred upon them; but it is obvious that the vast majority are not at present sufficiently educated or conversant with European institutions to be able to exercise political rights with safety either to themselves or to the community at large, and that only a very small number of Indians could properly be included among the electors.

6. Her Majesty's Government are therefore compelled to come to the same con- clusion with regard to the present petition, as was announced by my predecessor, the Earl of Carnarvon, in 1866, when a similar proposal for modifying the Constitution of the Colony of Ceylon was under their consideration. In his Despatch to Sir H. Robinson of the 10th of July 1866, Lord Carnarvon used the following words, which are applicable to the present case: "As it is impossible to establish in Ceylon any Legislature which "shall really represent the population of the country, Her Majesty's Government do not "feel at liberty to abandon that control over the revenues and legislation of the Colony "which is given them by the present Constitution of the Legislative Council."

7. But although Her Majesty's Government are unable to advise the Queen to comply with the prayer of the petitioners they have considered whether some alteration may not with advantage be made in the mode of appointing unofficial members to the Council of Government, so as to make that body more directly representative than it is at present of some of the principal interests with which it has to deal, and to bring it more thoroughly into accord with the feelings and opinions of the time.

8. The first of these objects may, I think, be to some useful extent attained by making it the practice to assign a seat in the Council of Government to the gentlemen who for the time being fill the important posts of Mayor of Port Louis, President of the Chamber of Agriculture, and President of the Chamber of Commerce; and it might be possible hereafter to select some other representative person (as, for example, a member of the Indian population) whose presence in the Council would secure a full expression of the views of some considerable section of the people.

9. With regard to the second requirement to which I have referred, that the Council should, as far as possible, represent the present views and wishes of the community, I think it may be desirable to alter the arrangement under which a seat in the Council is now held for life, and to provide that in the filling of future unofficial vacancies the appointments shall be made for a limited term, which, perhaps, might be five years.

10. If after consulting your Executive Council and the Council of Government you should be of opinion that these changes will be beneficial, and will be acceptable to the people as a not unsubstantial concession, notwithstanding that Her Majesty's Govern- ment have been unable to adopt the proposals of the petitioners, I shall be prepared to advise the Queen to take the necessary steps for introducing them.

• No. 4 f1 (H.C. 89) December 1967.

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11. I request you to give a copy of this Despatch to the Chairman of the meeting which adopted the petition as an explanation of the reasons for which I have been unable to advise Her Majesty, who was pleased to receive the petition very graciously, to comply with its prayer.

Sir J. P. Hennessy.

No. 3.

I have, &c. (Signed)

DERBY.

GOVERNOR SIR J. POPE HENNESSY, K.C.M.G., to the RIGHT HON. THE EARL OF DERBY. (Received July 16, 1883.)

(No. 27.) MY LORD,

Government House, Mauritius,

June 18, 1883.

ADVERTING to the Despatches respecting the agitation in this Colony in favour of a reform of the Constitution, I have the honour to lay before your Lordship the copy of an address presented to me in the Throne room on the day of my arrival by the Honourable Mr. Raoul and the Committee for Constitutional Reform, together with a copy of my reply.

2. I also enclose, for the information of Her Majesty's Government, a full report of the proceedings of a municipal banquet held in Port Louis on the 12th instant, when Mr. Thomy Pitot, the Deputy Mayor, Mr. K. Vern, and Sir Virgile Naz touched on the reform question.

I have, &c. (Signed) J. POPE HENNESSY.

The Right Hon. the Earl of Derby,

&c.

&c.

&c.

Enclosure in No. 3.

To his Excellency Sir JOHN POPE HENNESEY, K.C.M.G., Governor of Mauritius and its Dependencies. YOUR EXCELLENCY,

WE, the undersigned, members of the committee appointed at a public meeting held on the 6th of October last, to circulate and forward a petition addressed to Her Majesty, praying for the introduction of the elective element into the Council of Govern- ment, and further to take all such necessary measures as it might deem advisable to promote the reform advocated by the petitioners, think that we are only acting in con- formity with the feelings of our constituents, and with the true spirit of the mission entrusted to us, in wishing your Excellency a hearty welcome.

The circumstances which gave rise to, and preceded, the public meeting to which we have just referred, the resolutions which were then adopted, and all the other proceedings which thereupon followed, have no doubt been brought to your notice. Your Excellency knows what our aim is, and what step we have taken hitherto in order to attain it.

Your Excellency will easily understand that we are awaiting in anxious suspense the answer of Her Majesty's Government.

The object which we are pursuing is one which involves the most vital issues for the future of this little island.

In striving to emancipate it from the bonds of the system of Government to which it has been subjected up to this moment, in seeking to ensure to this community a direct voice in the management of its own concerns, in endeavouring to mould its destiny in accordance with the wishes and aspirations of nearly all the intelligent and public spirited men who form part of it, we feel that we are only accom- plishing a patriotic duty, and that we are moved by those noble and quickening lessons of freedom England has taught and is still teaching the world. Yet, though the change we claim would only confer upon us a very small measure of self-government and would be surrounded with all possible guarantees, we cannot dissemble from ourselves that we have met with a certain amount of opposition. Reform in all countries, and of whatever nature it may be, is always confronted by prejudice and interest, and your Excellency has sufficient experience of colonial life to be aware that this is particularly true as regards

• Nos. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 11 in Eastern, No. 89.

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