290
I do not believe that the measure will be accepted. The elected members in Executive Council are leading the opposition. Have I free hand to press measure on 29th? and am I to dissolve then if I am defeated? Request immediate reply.
43466
291
No. 233.
GOVERNOR SIR C. BOYLE to MR. LYTTELTON.
40287
(Received December 27, 1904.)
(Paraphrase.)
No. 230.
MR. LYTTELTON to GOVERNOR SIR C. BOYLE. (Sent 4.10 p.m., November 29, 1904.) TELEGRAM.
[Answered by No. 235.]
Matter most urgent. Referring to your telegram of the 27th instant.* If the elected members oppose, not increase of taxation, but actual tax proposed by Govern- ment, they should be given every chance to propose some other source of taxation. If they make such a proposal and it is unobjectionable in principle and adequate in probable yield, it should be accepted. If, however, the elected members oppose alt increased taxation, or if, while pretending to accept the principle they block measure, you should dissolve at once and act as my telegram of 12th Novembert directed.
40905
(Paraphrase.)
No. 231.
GOVERNOR SIR C. BOYLE to MR. LYTTELTON.
(Received December 2, 1904.)
TELEGRAM.
[Answered by No. 232.]
Yesterday vote passed imposing the new taxation indicated in my telegrams of 25th and 27th ultimo, and the necessary Ordinance was brought into force. Also resolution in compliance with instructions in your telegram of 12th November $ adopted unanimously. Opposition broke down, only four voting against measure. I propose to introduce and pass loan Ordinance with a suspending clause, as it is desirable that session should be closed as soon as possible.
40905
(Paraphrase.)
No. 232.
MR. LYTTELTON to GOVERNOR SIR C. BOYLÈ,
(Sent 8. p.m., December 9, 1904.)
TELEGRAM.
[Answered by No. 241.]
Your telegram of the 2nd instant has been received by me with much satisfaction and I desire to express my appreciation of the ability which you have shown in con- ducting this matter to a successful issue. In order to give effect to the resolution as to establishments, you should, as soon as possible, prepare schedule of posts to be abolished on the occurrence of vacancies by promotion or otherwise.
(No. 423.)
SIR,
[Answered by No. 244.]
Government House, Mauritius, November 29, 1904. IN continuation of previous correspondence on the subject of the financial position of the Colony, and the steps which are to be taken to establish an equilibrium between revenue and expenditure, and to replenish the surplus balances which have become exhaused, I have the honour to transmit, herewith, for your information, a copy of a Minute which I addressed to the Council of Government on the 22nd current.
2. This Minute was, without delay, referred to the Finance Committee, and it was my intention to have brought forward their report for consideration, with other matters in connection with the above questions, at to-day's meeting of the Legislature.
3. The Committee, however, being unable to report, I have decided to postpone the discussion until an early day, probably the 1st of December. I take the oppor- tunity of the outgoing French mail of to-morrow to furnish you with as much information as is available.
4. The Finance Committee have held two sittings since the 22nd, and they have been furnished with a Minute from the Colonial Secretary giving cover to certain estimates and calculations which I have made on reports furnished to me by my financial officers. I append a copy of that Minute* and of the annexures thereto, as well as copies of the financial officers' report,* with annexures, all of which have been under the consideration of the Finance Committee, and will be laid before the Legislature.
5. It will be observed that the financial officers estimate the total sum of deficit and unprovided expenditure for the remainder of the financial year at Rs. 1,017,945. I have thought, however, as will be seen in the annexures to the Colonial Secretary's Minute, that it would be safer to take this amount at Rs. 1,117,627, and as I adhere to that estimate, I am causing to be laid before the Legislature a further Minute, with annexures containing the same calculations.
6. In order to arrive at an estimate of the sums which would be realised on extra taxation, if a 20 per cent, surcharge were placed on the duties of Customs, and if the rates of excise duties were proportionately increased, I consulted the financial officers, and I append a statement* taken from their estimates for six months, showing that Rs. 310,350 additional revenue may be looked for, and to that sum I have added Rs. 16,500 as a fair estimate for the like collections for three weeks of December should the measure pass at once.
7. I append also drafts of the proposed taxation Ordinance and of the amended Re-afforestation Ordinance, the latter being a consequence on your decision that the loan for that purpose cannot be raised at present, and enabling the application of a 4 per cent. surcharge, hitherto collected under the terms of Ordinance No. 25 of 1901, to the purposes of general revenue, whilst the former provides for the cessation of such surcharge, if and when the 20 per cent. surcharge shall take effect.
I have, &c.,
CAVENDISH BOYLE.
• No. 229.
↑ No. 223
‡ Nos. 227 and 229.
§ No. 229.
| No. 231.
• Not printed.
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