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47427

32

No. 18.

GOVERNOR SIR C. BRUCE to MR. CHAMBERLAIN.

(Received 8.35 p.m., November 16, 1902.)

TELEGRAM.

[Answered by Nos. 19 and 24.]

Referring to correspondence relative to tramways loan, I am strongly recom- mended not to (Sic) by planters to include purchase of traction engines not running on rails, especially with a view to transport of canes from land belonging to small proprietors who cannot afford tramways to usines and transport of sugar from usine to railway station. Such engines will be immobilized under proposed Ordinance and Article No. 524 (?) of Civil Code. Under all the circumstances of the case I re- commend this, although payment by way of rent charge for such machinery immo- bilized under local law would not fall within the scope of improvements contemplated by English Law of 1864.

With reference to amount of loan, have you any objection to clause to the fol- lowing effect:" Governor may borrow money for purposes of this Ordinance pro- vided that no sum exceeding £70,000 shall be borrowed without a resolution of Council of Government approved by Secretary of State for the Colonies?"

Planters desire to be authorized to purchase through their own agents instead of through Crown Agents for Colonies. Have you any objection on the condition that payment is made to agents through Crown Agents or by Government here on arrival of machinery, on production of necessary papers? This is evidently necessary in case of planters who have been ordering in anticipation of Ordinance whom I pro- pose to include.

I urge strongly that clause be inserted in Ordinance exempting from military contribution interest and sinking fund paid to Receiver-General by planters on account of advances.

47427

No. 19.

33

I am recommending your proposal that the debt charges reimbursed by the planters should be exempted from military contribution for the favourable considera- tion of the Treasury and the War Office, and am requesting the earliest possible reply. I will telegraph on this point, as soon as I am in a position to do so.

47427

SIR,

No. 21.

I have, &c.,

J. CHAMBERLAIN.

COLONIAL OFFICE to. TREASURY AND WAR OFFICE. [Answered by Nos. 22 and 23.]

Downing Street, November 21, 1902. WITH reference to the letter from this Office of the 31st of January, 1898,* and to previous correspondence on the subject of the military contribution of Mauritius, I am directed by Mr. Secretary Chamberlain to request you to inform the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury that in consequence of an outbreak of the Secretary of State for War

surrah in the Colony, and the loss of a large number of draught animals, it has been decided to assist the planters to provide mechanical transport by raising a loan and lending the proceeds to the planters.

This loan will be raised by the Government, who will be reimbursed the debt charges by the planters. The Governor strongly urges that under the Ordinance to authorize the raising of the loan, a clause shall be inserted exempting the debt a reimbursement, from charges, to be paid into revenue by the planters as the total revenue on which military contribution is paid. This proposal is so clearly their Lordships will have no difficulty equitable that Mr. Chamberlain trusts

Mr. Brodrick

in assenting to it, and I am to ask that the earliest possible reply may be returned to this letter, as the matter is pressing.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

TILLICO. 882

8 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

MR. CHAMBERLAIN to GOVERNOR SIR C. BRUCE.

(Sent 6.55 p.m., November 20, 1902.)

TELEGRAM.

Referring to your telegram of November 16th,* proposals approved, but pay- ments to be made by Government in the Colony, not through Crown Agents. Neces- sary to obtain War Office concurrence to military contribution. Will telegraph† as soon as possible.

47427

(No. 283.). SIR,

No. 20.

MR. CHAMBERLAIN to GOVERNOR SIR C. BRUCE. [Answered by No. 39.]

Downing Street, November 21, 1902. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your telegram of the 16th instant, on the subject of the loan to be raised with a view to enabling the planters to provide themselves with mechanical transport.

I approve generally of your proposals, and have so informed you in my telegram of the 20th instant.‡

In the circumstances, I do not think it necessary that the planters should be required to purchase their materials through the Crown Agents, though they would no doubt find it advantageous to do so. But if the Crown Agents are not employed, I think it undesirable to trouble them with the payments, and have therefore approved of your alternative proposal that payment should be made by the Colonial Govern- ment on the arrival of the machinery, subject to the production of the necessary papers.

• No. 18.

† See No. 24.

‡ No. 19.

A similar letter is being addressed to

the War Office. the Treasury.

I am,

&c.,

H. BERTRAM COX.

48403

SIR,

No. 22.

WAR OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE.

(Received November 22, 1902.)

1

War Office, London, S.W., November 21, 1902. I AM directed by the Secretary of State for War to acknowledge the receipt of Mr. H. Bertram Cox's letter of the 21st instant, No. 47427, stating that, in con- sequence of an outbreak of Surrah in Mauritius, it is proposed to raise a loan to assist the planters to provide mechanical transport, and suggesting that the re- payments into revenue by the planters of the debt charges so incurred should be exempted from the total revenue on which military contribution is payable.

In reply, I am to acquaint you that Mr. Brodrick agrees with Mr. Chamberlain in regarding this proposal as an equitable one, and that, subject to the concurrence of the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury (to whom a copy of this letter is being sent, with a suggestion that they should address their reply to your Depart- ment direct), he assents to the inclusion in the Ordinance authorising the loan of a proviso to that effect.

I am, &c.,

G. FLEETWOOD WILSON.

• Not printed.

† No. 21.

E

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