6.
146
But I do not conceal from myself that a system of outdoor relief such as exists here tends to undermine any habits of self-reliance or of self-help which the poorer classes may retain.
I have, &c.,
GRAHAM BOWER.
147
I have, therefore, the honour to request that you will be good enough to move his honour the Officer Administering the Government to approve of the above sum of Rs. 85,400, as detailed above, being sanctioned, and I enclose a warrant for the favour of His Honour's signature.
Enclosure 1 in No. 116
(No. 300.)
POOR LAW COMMISSIONER to COLONIAL SECRETARY.
22 February, 1909.
I HAVE the honour to report, for the information of the Officer Administering the Government, that the sums provided under the following items of the Poor Law Estimates for the year 1908-9 are insufficient to meet the claims made upon them, namely:-
-
Item 26/1-Relief to paupers;
Item 26/2-Provisions, Fuel, and Oil;
Item 26/3 Funerals;
Item 26/4-Transport;
Item 26/8- Fees for examination of lunatics and lepers;
and that further sums are therefore necessary to meet the requirements under those heads of expenditure until the 30th June next, as follows :—
Relief to paupers
Provisions, Fuel, and Oil
Funerals
Transport
Fees for examination of lunatics and lepers
Total **
The increase under the item
Rs. 78,000
2,200
3,000
2,000
200
Rs. 85,400
D. P. GARRIOCH,
Poor Law Commissioner.
Number of recipients of "Relief to Paupers" in 1907 compared with 1908.
1907.
1908.
1.
Sick in Canal Street Convent Hospital
225
203
2.
Inmates of Barkly Asylum
930
937
3. Lepers.at St. Lazare
210
215
4.
Orphans in Convents
47
71
5. Infirms in Convents
1,013
1,539
6.
Relief in cash and in rice
2,167
3,342
4,592
6,307
D. P. G.
Item
Particulars.
Enclosure 2 in No. 116
HEAD 26.-POOR-OTHER CHARGES,
Expenditure in Expenditure in Expenditure in
1905-6.
1906-7.
1907-8.
Estimates in 1908–9.
Excess nuw applied for.
causes :-
Relief to Paupers" is due to the following
To an increase in the number of paupers who receive outdoor relief in cash
and in rice;
To the number of skilled workmen and labourers employed in the various workshops of the Colony, having been thrown out of employment, to whose families assistance had to be given. The misery this year has been greater than last, as many poor persons who last year were obliged to sell superfluous things, found themselves reduced to sad straits with nothing to sell;
To the increase in the number of infirms maintained in the several convent branch infirmaries on account of the overcrowded state of the Barkly Asylum;
To the high price of rice and other provisions, to meet which no extra sum
was placed on the Estimates.
With respect to item 26/2, "Provisions, Fuel, and Oil" for the Barkly Asylum, the extra expenditure is due to the increase in the number of infirms, orphans, lunatics in the lunatic branch wards, and to the high price paid for rice, dholl, and salt fish-which could not be foreseen.
The item 20/3, "Funerals," calls for no comment, as the vote is uncontrollable. The item 26/4, "Transport."
On the item 26/8, "Fees for examination of lunatics," I have only a balance of Rs. 730 to meet the expenditure of March, April, May, and June, and I shall require Rs. 200 more. I am unable to report, at present, that there will be savings on any of the other subheads of expenditure on Head 28, "Poor."
I may, however, effect a saving on item 28/10, "Hire of labour," if I get the prisoners I have asked for to clean up the Asylum grounds otherwise the whole vote will be. spent, as it is urgent as a matter of health for the inmates that the rank vegetation be kept down, and a further saving may take place if the price of rice falls. I can, however, put down no figure as likely to be correct in this event.
I annex a short statement showing the number of receipts of Poor Relief in 1907 as compared with 1908.
1
Relief to paupers
Rs.
Rs. c.
G. Rs. C. Ra. C. Re.
122,302 86 149,276 25 172,363 72 127,000 00 78,000 00
2
Provisions, fuel and oil
25,162 88 26,426 16
27,628 36
25,000 00 2,200 00
3
Funerals
7,763 00 7,938 10
9,789 02
8,000 00
3,000 00
Transport
5
Fees for examination
5,818 24 1,425 00
5,466 02
7,960 77
6,000 00
2,000 00
1,590 00
1,950 00
1,600 00
200 00
of lunatics and
lepers.
Total
162,471 98 190,696.53 219,691 87167,600 00 85,400 00
0407
SIR,
No. 117.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE ACTING GOVERNOR.
(No. 67.)
*
Downing Street, 8 April, 1909. WITH reference to my telegram of the 8th of February, I have the honour to inform you that His Majesty's Government have agreed that the cost of the passages, subsistence, and remuneration of the Royal Commissioners and their staff should be borne by the Imperial Treasury on the understanding that the Mauritius Government will provide accommodation for the sittings, temporary clerical assist- ance, and the services of an interpreter, if required, and free transport on the Mauritius railways, and will also pay the expenses of Mauritius witnesses.
2. I hope shortly to be in a position to submit, for His Majesty's approval, the names of the gentlemen who will serve on the Commission, and I will then com- municate with you further. In the meantime, I enclose a Memorandum specifying certain information which the Commissioners will doubtless be glad to have pre- pared beforehand so as to be ready for their use on their arrival in the Colony.
should be glad if this could be taken in hand without delay.
• No. 106.
13217
T$
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 882
9
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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