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MAURITIUS.

FURTHER CORRESPONDENCĘ

[31 May, 1907 to 20 May, 1909.]

BELATING TO THE

FINANCES OF MAURITIUS.

}

23924

No. 1.

THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

(Confidential.)

(Received July 8, 1907.)

[Answered by No. 2.]

Government House, Le Réduit, 31 May, 1907.

MY LORD,

I HAVE the honour to transmit herewith copies of correspondence which has recently passed between Mr. H. Leclézio, Member of the Executive and Legislative Councils, and myself on the subject of certain resolutions which he was about to move at a meeting of the Chamber of Agriculture with respect to the condition of the sugar industry of the Colony, and with a view to obtain assistance for the planters and factory owners by means of a Government loan to be raised on the security of the Colonial revenue.

2. The meeting, which was opened to the public, was held on the 7th current, and was, as I understand, attended by a considerable number of persons interested in, and more or less directly concerned in, the production and sale of sugar, and the Chamber of Agriculture have now addressed me on the subject of the resolutions then passed by a large majority of those present. I append a copy of the letter of the President of the Chamber, and of the enclosure accompanying it. I have asked for a full report of the proceedings and speeches at the meeting, and if this is available before despatch of the outgoing mail it will be added to the enclosures herein.t

3. For convenience of reference I also append an extract from the speech which I addressed to the Council of Government at the opening of the session on the 21st ourrent and in which I referred to the subject.

4. Mr. Leclézio originally requested me to submit and recommend his proposals for your Lordship's favourable consideration and sanction, before they had been considered in the Council of Government, but on my informing him that I could not consent to any such procedure, he begged me to postpone their consideration in the Council until be returned in August next from Réunion, to which island he is proceeding at the end of this month, and I consented to do so.

5. It is by no means certain that the whole of the elected section of the Legis- lature will support the scheme, nor can I gather, notwithstanding the reported results of the meeting under reference, that there is practical unanimity in such support amongst the whole of the planting portion of the community, and I am given to understand that there are many besides those who have given expression to their views on the matter who are opposed to borrowing money from the Govern- ment for such purposes.

13917

• Enclosure 7 only printed.

† Subsequently received, but not printed.

A

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference -

mmimmil

TTICO. 882

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

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDO

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