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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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Reference :-

1C.O. 882

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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has been 17 times imprisoned, and he is actually nearly considered as the King of France.

what can 24 hours' imprisonment do to a poor little Mauritian like me who wishes to do something for his country. I will not speak to you any longer of me, I prefer speaking to you of this campaign, which we will perhaps be compelled to I will speak to you of the continue. I mean to say that of the épuration sociale plague, of the manner the Sanitary Authorities act; the law should be the same for all, should a case of plague be detected at a wealthy man's place the same steps should be taken for him as for the poor; I am not willing to say anything wrong against my colleague Dr. Castel, I am alluding to the specialists; I am 40 year old "am not yet like the Grand River North West Bridge), and 200 soldiers and 400 constables are required to send me to jail, to continue speaking about the Sanitary Authorities I consider that the blood should be analysed at the "station bactério- logique "amd not by a specialist, who, though being honest, is interested in detecting the plague

MP" Mérandon and myself have been accused of having manifested against Sir John this is enormons. The democratic breakfast we had was in favour of Sir John In a country like ours the Companies Act should be applied; had we the Companies Act we would not see certain things which grieve, such as successions of Rs. 1,500 or With a Commission of R- 2.000, on which poor persons only receive Rs 200 Enquiry, our rivers would be dammed in, we would have a school for our workmen Some have reproached me of acting against my uncle, the Hon G Guibert, the Tus is not correct; no one appreciates my uncle letter Deputy for this District than I do, don't you think that iæcause my uncle is not amongst us fo-day he does not share our views, but it is only because certain groups of persons went to see him and asked him nea to attend this meeting, we are both of the same blood, and I am certain that, when she partisans of the oligarchy will have decided to shoot me, my mafcnted uncle will evene forward and defend me

Mr. Jacques Levieux is then invited to speak, and he states as follows: -- Up to now the Mauritians listened quietly, "to-day they speak, they manifest their will: what have done the Deputies for the citizens? Nothing; to-day that the nation has to fight against malady what have they done? Nothing. When the "what have Secretary of State, our master, our friend has told us "I will assist you the Deputies then lone for us They have said. " No, no enquiry." They have kept to their error: to-day the crowd, the electors, say: "We do not want them any more we are willing to have other representatives who will help us in our distress and who will give us back our life." Mr. Levieux then reads a resolution, the object of which is to have the actual Deputies discharged and replaced by others; the said resolution is approved of.

Mr. Anatole de Boucherville then makes a short speech and recapitulates what has been said by Dr Laurent and Dr. Guibert, maintaining the utility of a Com- mission of Enquiry and of a " Banque Agricole d'Etat."

After Mr Boucherville. Mr. Lallah makes a speech in Hindustani; after him Mr. Ramen speaks to the crowd in Madras; then one. Courbanally, begins reading Something in French, but he speaks with much hesitation and in so low a voice that. he is called upon to sit down, which he does. One, Sheik Hossen, a planter_of Phoenix, then addresses himself to the crowd in Madras, after which Hon. Dr. Laurent declares that the meeting is over and invites those present to disperse in good order, which is done.

Respectfully submitted,

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No. 110.

N. LAVOQUER,

Corporal.

2.

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In the latter part of 1907 an urgent demand was made on behalf of the planters for a Government loan to assist them in carrying on their business, and it was alleged that in the absence of such assistance there would be a general collapse of the sugar industry, with a financial crisis as its consequence. Although this demand was supported by the Governor, the information at Lord Elgin's disposal did not warrant him in acceding to it without full enquiry, and he intimated that if the Unofficial Members of the Legislature desired to press the question it would be necessary for them to pass a resolution-inviting the appointment of a Royal Com- mission of Enquiry. The Unofficial Members, by a large majority, declined to take this step, and, for the time, the matter dropped:

3. Although the refusal of the loan was not followed by the consequences pre- dicted locally, the position, as regards the Government's finances, has steadily grown worse, and a feature in the situation which is especially disquieting is that, although the last two sugar crops have been satisfactory, there is no corresponding improve- ment in the revenue. The year 1907-8 closed with a deficit of over Rs. 1,100,000, and it is expected that the current year will show a deficit of over Rs. 700,000. A Committee of the Council has been sitting to devise measures for restoring the financial equilibrium, but their efforts have not been successful, and the Council have now unanimously passed a resolution asking for the appointment of a Royal Com- mission.

4 Lord Crewe has no doubt as to the propriety, and indeed the necessity from the point of view of His Majesty's Government, of taking this step, and he proposes shortly to take the King's pleasure. He would have been glad if it had been possible to place the cost of the enquiry on Mauritius funds, but he is convinced that this course is impracticable. In addition to what has been stated above as to the financial position, it may be observed that the Colony is in debt to the Crown Agents to the extent of over £60,000; that the limit of taxation would appear to have been reached; that poverty and distress are rife in the Island; that the railways have been allowed, from lack of funds, to fall into such a condition that it will be abso- lutely necessary to expend a large sum upon them in the near future; and that it is urgently desirable to provide funds for carrying out the anti-malarial measures recently recommended by Colonel Ross.

5. Moreover, if any useful results are to be obtained from the enquiry, it will be necessary that the terms of reference to the Commission should be wide, and that the Commissioners should investigate the political and administrative conditions now existing in the Island. This portion of the enquiry will undoubtedly be exceedingly distasteful to the majority of the persons affected, and in Lord Crewe's opinion it is not desirable that a Commission which has to conduct an enquiry of this nature should be paid for out of local funds. The vote would probably be resisted in the Legislature, and, even if it were possible to carry it, the discussion upon it would certainly be embittered and would not facilitate the work of the Commissioners.

6. Lord Crewe proposes that the Commission should consist of three or four members, and be accompanied by a secretary, a shorthand writer (who could not be procured locally), and, if possible, by an expert, whose duty it would be to report to the Commissioners upon the position of the sugar estates with special reference to the demand for assistance made by the planters. His Lordship is unable, at the present moment, to make definite proposals as to the remuneration of the gentlemen who may be selected for the various posts, or to give an estimate of the total cost. A further communication will be made to you upon these points as soon as prac- ticable, but in the meantime his Lordship would be glad to learn that the Lords Commissioners concur in principle in charging the cost of this enquiry upon Imperial funds.

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I am, &c..

FRANCIS J. S. HOPWOOD.

SIR.

COLONIAL OFFICE to TREASURY.

[Answered by No 111.]

Downing Street, 10th March, 1909. I AM directed by the Earl of Crewe to state, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, that for some considerable period the condition of Mauritius, as regards its finances and its administration generally, has caused much anxiety to him and to his predecessor and during the last two years has been the subject of much correspondence with the Governor.

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No. 111.

TREASURY to COLONIAL OFFICE.

(Received 18 March, 1909.)

Treasury Chambers, 17th March, 1909. I HAVE laid before the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury your

SIR.

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