112
79. I think this explanation accounts satisfactorily for the increase of scrious offence® in 1885 as compared with 1882.
80. With reference to minor offences, the Inspector-General of Police has furnished a Return, which is attached to his evidence, from which it appears that the number of minor offences in each of the last six years has been as follows:-
1880
1881
1882
1883
1884
1.885
Cases.
COM
·
13,510
·
12,774
10,114
9,080
•
8,114
113
been used to a much greater extent than before, but that no evidence has been brought forward to connect that leniency with the small increase which has taken place in serious offences since the year preceding his arrival.
8. The Necessity or otherwise for special Measures dealing with Vagrancy. 85. From the evidence of the Procureur-Général, it appears that the number of ersons charged with vagrancy during the last few years has been as follows:-
In 1882
1883
1884 1885
Persons.
325
-
285
491
·
942
1:「།:「?
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 882
сл
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
8,187
These include cases under the labour laws and vagrancy. The Inspector-General explains this great apparent decrease in minor offences during the years 1883-84-85 by stating that police action has at different times during that period been restricted by Executive Orders, and that there has also been a change in the law as regards" Gandia or "Bhang." The Executive Orders to which be referred were instructions enjoining greater leniency for non-vaccination, and for causing obstruction in the public thorough- fares. Upon this point the Inspector-General observes in his evidence: Had the police "action not been restricted by order, I see no reason for supposing that the crime would "have been different in 1885 from what it was in any other previous year under "review." No evidence, however, was given before the Royal Commission to show that the leniency enjoined by the Executive in cases of non-vaccination and the obstruction of thoroughfares was ill-judged.
81. As regards the extent to which the sentences of the Courts have been varied or set aside by the exercise of the prerogative of pardon, I enclose a letter from the Colonial Secretary's Office* covering two Returns, giving particulars of each case in which the prerogative of mercy has been exercised, the first being for the period from the 1st May 1880 to 21st May 1883; and the second from the 1st June 1883 to 30th June 1886,- the latter being the first thirty-seven months of Sir John Pope Hennessey's administration, and the former a corresponding period under the Government of his predecessors. The Colonial Secretary's letter covers also two statements, giving a summary of the information contained in the Returns.
82. From these it appears that Sir John Pope Hennessy intervened in 662 cases, as compared with 274 cases in which his predecessors had interposed during a similar period. In the 662 cases :~-~-
Remissions were recommended by the convicting officers in
CRIOR.
·
371
"9
by other officers in
•
235
#
#1
were made against recommendation of convicting officers in were made without any recommendation in
-
31
11
"
-
14
662
concerning which papers are not forthcoming
Total remissions
83. In the 274 cases remitted by Sir George Bowen and Sir Napier Broome during a corresponding period
Remissions were recommended by the convicting officers in
++
39
•
"
by other officers in
were made against recommendation of convicting officers were made without any recommendation in concerning which papers are not forthcoming
Total remissions
•
Cases.
My g
·
179 86 Nil
3
84. It is impossible to express any opinion as to whether in each of the 662 cases remitted by Sir John Pope Hennessy the prerogative was exercised in a judicious manner. All that can be said is, that the prerogative of pardon has, during his administration,
December 13, 1886 (Enclosure 9). Not printed.
86. The returns for the years previous to 1882-do not give a separate figure for vagrancy. The increase shown above is stated to be due to the number of men out of employment in consequence of the agricultural and commercial depression; and, also, to a certain extent, to some of the Indians coming to Mauritius not being altogether suited for field work. The Junior District Magistrate of Port Louis, under whose cognizance nearly all vagrancy cases come, estimated the total number of Indians in the island without fixed residence or occupation at about 1,500. He, as well as the protector of Immigrants and the Procureur-Général, considered that there is no necessity for any special measures for dealing with vagrancy, beyond an increase of the vote for back passages, so as to enable a greater number of cases of this description to be returned to India. Mr. Trotter, the Protector of Immigrants, said that if the present small annual vote of 26,000 rupees were increased to 40,000 or 50,000 rupees, he would be in a position to deal with every difficulty arising under this head.
9. Any other Matters relating to the Administration of the Government brought under Notice by Persons of Responsibility, and deemed deserving of Inquiry and Report.
87. Under this head I propose to refer to the charges against Sir John Pope Hennessy, advanced by certain of the English Civil Servants of Mauritius.
88. Upon the 13th November a deputation on behalf of a number of English officials waited on me at Government House, Port Louis. The deputation was composed of the following six gentlemen :-
Mr. Didier St. Amand, Acting Judge of the Supreme Court;
The Rev. G. McIrvine, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church;
Mr. J. F. Trotter, Protector of Immigrants;
Dr. F. Lovell, Chief Medical Officer;
Mr. George Mayer, Acting Master of Supreme Court; and
Mr. A. Messervy, Rector of the Royal College.
89. Mr. Didier St. Amand was the spokesman, and said the deputation had come on behalf of the English officials of the Colony. They had had the misfortune, on various occasions during the last three years, to have to address Memorials to the Secretary of State. In almost every instance the Secretary of State had decided in their favour. From the instructions given to the Royal Commission, they gathered that one reason on account of which the inquiry had been authorised was the repeated Memorial: referred It was their duty to place their cases before me. The individual grievances had already, in most cases, been redressed. Their complaint now was against a system of hostility evinced against a race and a class of officials, and they desired to advance against the Governor the four following charges :—
to.
"(1.) That Sir John Pope Hennessy has publicly and privately announced that he would not give promotion to any Englishman, when a vacant appointment was at his disposal, and that he should use all his influence with the Secretary of State to prevent his appointing or promoting Englishmen to offices within his gift.
“The disabilities of Englishmen have, in fact, been extended to Natives of this Colony, of English descent, and to those Mauritians whose English sympathies were wpll known.
"The few exceptions made only illustrate better the character of Sir John Pepe Hennessy's policy in this respect.
E 14814.
P
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