CO882-(4-5) — Page 10

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

TEELTIC.O. 882

mwimmin

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

121

some of them might be yet more advantaged by a further extension to Badulla, but not at all in the like degree. Extension to Haputalé means the acquisition by these planters of means of railway carriage for their produce, a mode of conveyance at present (from the nature and gradient of the passes between Nanu-oya and Badulla), inaccessible to them. Extension from Haputalé to Badulla would only mean that such accommodation would be rendered more easily accessible than at Haputalé. The difference between having such means of communication available at all, or unavail. able, is far greater than that between having them available with a greater or less degree of ease and expedition. There is not, I myself believe, an estate in any part of Uva which would not benefit by the extension to Haputalé; but as the case of the Haldummulla district is quite different from that of others in the Province, I will confine myself to saying, what cannot possibly be denied, that every estate above Haputalé, that is to say, every estate between Haputalé and Badulla, and every estate around and above Badulla, will benefit most materially by the extension now contem- plated. As regards Haldummulla, there are those who believe (though it seems to me on wholly inadequate grounds,) that the produce of that district will, even after a railway has been opened, continue to be sent by road to Colombo; but no one has suggested, or can suggest, that if it is conveyed by railway at all, it will or can be so except from the Haputalé station, or that further extension to Badulla is other- wise than a matter of absolute indifference to the planters of that district. The question now before us is that of giving Uva an outlet for its produce by railway at all; the question involved in extension from Haputalé to Badulla is only that of improving such an outlet when it has been made. The anticipation of irritation and discontent on the part of the Uva planters is not, therefore, a factor which need influence the decision of Her Majesty's Government. Further extension from Haputalé to Badulla, as I have before observed, must stand on its own merits. I and others have convinced ourselves, and are anxious to convince you, that the construction of a line to Haputalé will prove remunerative. If equal proof can be exhibited that a railway between Haputalé and Badulla will pay, by all means let it, too, be made, but not otherwise.

6. Mr. Stanhope finds it "difficult to allow that the Province of Uva has special "claims upon the public revenue beyond those of any other part of Ceylon." I concur in the

opinion that such special claims are always to be regarded with special caution; but they are in this case based on the strong ground of special taxation. When the planters consented to special and exceptional taxation upon themselves, it was distinctly understood that the quid pro quo for such taxation was railway ex- tension. All other planting districts (with the exception of a few scattered spots) have benefited in a greater or less degree by the construction of railways already effected. Uva has not. It may be answered by those but superficially acquainted with the subject that that province has at least derived benefit from having the railway system brought nearer to it, and consequently rendered more available by it. But such an assumption would be erroneous. It is the case that the district (for example) of Maskeliya (which is also without direct railway communication) has thus benefited; but it is not the case as regards Uva. Speaking generally, and without reference to isolated action on the part of particular individuals, it may safely be said that no tea or coffee grown around or beyond Badulla now goes by railway to Colombo; while, were the railway complete to Haputalé, not an ounce of such products grown in those localities would go by any other mode of conveyance. This will perhaps be the more easily understood by reference to the diagram which I have the honour to enclose. I have never said that the special claims of Uva were such as to demand or warrant the inception of a clearly unremunerative scheme, but whatever their value, it can, I think, hardly be denied that such special claims exist. It is, moreover, to be observed, that what is asked is not that the Island should incur loss, or be burdened with a load of interest for the benefit of the Province of Uva, but that the Government should undertake a work profitable to itself, and opening for development the richest part of the Island.

The conclusion drawn by Mr. Stanhope from my insistance on the importance to the Province of Uva of early extension of the line is not wholly warranted 'by facts. The uncertain and precarious position of the industries of that province is due to competition with produce from districts already served by the railway. If Uva were placed on an equal footing with them in this respect its produce, which in quality and quantity outrivals that of most other places, owing to the superiority of its soil and climate, would need no defence against such competition. But if the railway be not extended there can be little or no development, and the portion of the Island most

R 3

Reference :-

C.O. 882

4 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO