CO882-(6-8) — Page 336

PUBLIC

RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 882

234

African markets, show a considerable advance, the output of the present season will be less by some 90,000 tons than that of last year, or at least 40,000 below the yearly average, and planters and estate owners may find, and will certainly plead that they find, much difficulty in meeting the liabilities which are due, and which are becoming due, to the Colonial Government.

8. In view of the constitution of that Government I venture to think that the enforcement of all its claims, the initiation of reforms and economies in its adminis- tration, and the avoidance of any recurrence of such a financial crisis as is now in front of it, will be rendered the less difficult and the more effective, if, by the adoption of the course which I have suggested, the Government is enabled to escape that most serious of difficulties, namely, an admitted and published inability to meet its responsi bilities or to complete its undertakings.

9. In conclusion I would ask for your most favourable consideration of my re- commendation and for the earliest possible reply thereto.

36627

No. 220.

I have, &c.,

CAVENDISH BOYLE.

GOVERNOR SIR C. BOYLE to MR. LYTTELTON.

(Received October 24, 1904.)

[Answered by No. 225.]

(Secret and Confidential.)

ŞIR,

.."

285

there has been created an unnecessary and unwieldy conglomeration of offices, Authorities," Boards and Departments, resulting not only in a multiplication of references, in waste of time and energy on details, in a consequent and serious neglect of essentials, but also in an expenditure out of all proportion to the means and requirements of the Colony.

6. Furthermore, there is a marked absence of the trust and confidence which are necessary for the good conduct of all public services; there is no security for privileged, or any official, communication. Every step taken by his advisers, every action of the Governor, is quickly made public, and freely discussed in the press; whilst Civil Servants make it a practice to air any and every grievance to the "Member for the district," who, in return, is the recipient of every sort of item of interesting information.

7. Much of all this may be attributable to racial differences and peculiarities, but much also is, I fear, due to a want of understanding and agreement amongst the chief officials, and to a general slackness in handling the reins of administration.

8. At the risk of an appearance of jumping quickly to conclusions in the matter, I feel constrained, at this early date in my administration, to make these observations; for the conditions which obtain, and to which are largely due, in my opinion, the financial difficulties of the Colony, in the general administration, and in the constitution of its government, seem to me to call for searching enquiry and unflinching reform, and I conceive it only due to myself that, before asking formally for such steps to be taken, I should submit to you the impressions which have forced themselves upon me on assuming the charge which I have received at your hands.

I have, &c.,

CAVENDISH BOYLE.

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

8 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

Le Réduit, September 20, 1904. In my telegraphic despatch of the 29th of August, I expressed the opinion that leave of absence, as from the 17th current, for which the Colonial Secretary had applied, should be granted, and I submitted a request and suggestion for his temporary replacement by an officer of mental strength and ability. Your reply of the 31st of Augustt permitted me to communicate with the Governor of Ceylon, and of that permission I gratefully availed myself by telegraphing to Sir Henry Blake on the same day in the terms of your instructions.

2. A message, in reply, reached me from Ceylon on the 1st current, containing questions as to remuneration, and as to the probable duration of the acting appoint- ment, which I answered on the following day to the effect that no salary from here would be available for three months, the probable period of the acting appointment, but that if it were continued beyond that period half-pay would be available.

3. I have heard nothing further from the Governor of Ceylon, but your message of the 7th‡ makes it evident that he has been in communication with you on the subject; and, in my reply to you on the 9th current,§ I gave my reasons for not wishing to submit a vote to the Council of Government in this connection. I may, however, here state, that, although I did not deem it expedient to make any specific intimation to Sir H. Blake, my desire, as conveyed to you in my first-quoted message,* was to personally provide all the cost (including honorarium) which might be consequent upon my being afforded the temporary assistance of an officer specially lent to act as Colonial Secretary during a portion of Sir G. Bower's leave of absence. I mention this in case it may become necessary to renew my appeal for assistance; but, in the meantime, Mr. Gibson will act as Colonial Secretary pending further orders.

4. I conceived it to be in the interests of the service that Sir G. Bower should have his leave. He had several years of hard work in his substantive office, whilst, since October last year, when Sir C: Bruce left the Colony, the task of administering the Government, under trying and difficult circumstances, has fallen upon him; and I am constrained to observe that he has given me the impression of a man whose energies have been highly tried, and to whom a rest from such strain would prove beneficial.

5. I have addresed you in a separate despatch on the financial condition of the Colony, but there is another consideration which gives cause for serious anxiety. I refer to the condition of the Civil Service. That it is overmanned there can be no doubt, and that in many instances the men are underpaid 15 equally true. Again,

‡ No. 209. § No. 210. | No. 219.

• No. 205.

† No. 206.

36604

(Secret.)

SIR,

No. 221.

GOVERNOR SIR C. BOYLE to MR. LYTTELTON.

(Received October 24, 1904.)

[Answered by Nos. 222 and 223.]

Government House, Mauritius, September 25, 1904.

I HAD the honour of receiving yesterday your telegraphic despatch of the 23rd current, and of replying on the same day to the effect that I proposed to await the receipt of your promised despatch on the subject of the finances of the Colony, but in the meantime to consider the question of the imposition of an Income Tax which you have suggested therein. I also made certain proposals in connection with my personal emoluments to which I have asked to be favoured with a reply by telegraph.

2. Under date the 20th current I addressed you in a confidential despatcht giving my reasons for recommending that a loan in aid of revenue to the extent of Rs. 1,000,000 should be sanctioned; and whilst I shall endeavour to carry out your views and instructions to the best of my ability, I venture again to submit, and to strongly urge, that this course should be adopted for the following reasons:-

3. The imposition of an Income Tax will be strenuously resisted in the Council of Government, and it is probable that many members of the Civil Service will indirectly join in that resistance. Moreover, however quickly the scheme may be taken up, however prompt may be the action of all concerned in the formulation and drafting of the necessary legislation to give it effect, a considerable time must elapse before it can become operative, whilst the administration cannot fail to be costly.

4. I presume that in accordance with the practice in England, incomes of Rs. 2,400 (£160) and under would be exempted from the tax, and if five per cent., or one shilling in the pound, be the rate, the officials' salaries would not yield more than Rs. 50,000 per annum, or say, Rs. 33,000 for eight months-for the aggregate of personal emoluments above Rs. 2,400 per annum is somewhat short of Rs. 1,000,000. I do not take into consideration any return from incomes other than those paid by the Government, for I venture to predict that the cost of collection would, at first at all events, more than counterbalance the receipts, and in addition it must be borne in mind that every description of trade is already taxed under the various

• No. 214.

† No. 219.