TABLE OF CONTENTS.
Pages
Descriptioda
Mr.
Mr
1
J
"
Sovie: Oral Evidence -
Huteau: Oral Evidence
Dickson: Replies to written questions
Oral evaluee
Hon F. A. Hershenroder: Oral eviden
Sir I. V. Delafaye: Replies to written questions
Oral evidence -
Mr Justice Dayson : Replies to written questions
Oral evidence
3-22 23-26
26, 27
28-31
31-33
33-35
36-41
44
44-47
Hon. Major-General A. G. Creagh
"
Rephes 10 written questions Oral evidence
47,48
48-53
12
Dr Janet Horwood: Oral evidence
54-59
13
Very Rev. E. Chalver: Oral evidence
15
Very Rev. J. R. Bilborrow: Oral evidence
Rev. P Grimand: Oral evidence
59-67
67-69
70
16
Father V. Malaval: Oral evidence-
70
17
Rev. G. Meirvine: Oral evidence -
71-73
14
Rt. Rev. F. A. Gregory: Oral evidence
74-78
19
Pranpat Rumphal : Oral Evidence
78-80
20
Sajau Gosain': Oral evidence -
N1
21
Peer Ally: Oral evidence
81,82
22
Hon. G Astelme: Oral evidence
83-88
23
Sir G. Bower: Oral evidence-
89-95
21
Sir C. Boyle: Oral evidence -
95-103
28
Mr. Justice Brown; Replies to writton questions
104
26
Mr. Justice Thiband: Replies to written questions
104, 105
27
Report on production of sugar by Mr. A. Walter (with envering letter from the
Governor) -
105-108
2K
Report on sugar and ten industries by Mr. A. Walter (with covering letter from
the Governor)
108-124
27
Letter from Mr. G. Dickson
125
Confidential Evidence.
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS AND EVIDENCE
MAURITIUS
OF THE
ROYAL COMMISSION, 1909.
THIRD SITTING.
Thursday, 24th June 1909.
At Government House, Le Réduit (in Private).
זוי
minu
PRESENT
SIE FRANK SWETTENHAM, K.O.M.G. (Chairman).
Sir EDWARD LOUGHLIN O'Malley.
H. B. DRYSDALE WOODCOCK, Esq.
A. J. HARDING, Esq. (Secretary).
NOTE. The above were present at all the subsequent sittings of the Commission.
(1.)
His Excellency Sir CAVENDISH BOYLE, K.C.M.G., called in and examined.
1160. (Chairman.) I propose to ask you first those questions which are, more or less, public questions, to which you would not mind the answers being published. Then I propose to ask you other questions which it would be inadvisable to publish your answers to, and, lastly, I propose to sak you to make any statement that you would like to make in regard to matters which I may not have asked you about. I would also say that it is not our wish to go into the past any more than is necessary, and we propose to ask only what is necessary in regard to the past in order to get at the position of affairs. For how long have you been the Governor here ? -Since the 20th August 1904; that is the date when I assumed the Administration.
1161. May I first of all ask you, in regard to the financial position of the Colony at the present time, what is the method adopted for the preparation of the Budget? I believe the Colonial Secretary is responsible for it -The Colonial Secretary is responsible to me. He submits his estimates in draft and we generally go through them together with the other Heads of Departmente concerned. The basis on which the revenue has always been estimated is on the results of previous years, coupled with the main factor, the estimated crop for the ensuing year.
1162. The sugar crop-Yes, that is the sole orop practically.
1163. And that, I imagine, is governed to a large extent by the weather P-Yes, it is so. I have had prepared for you an estimation-at least it was pre- pared for the estimates for this year, which I do not think you have got, of the affect of the weather on the Hugar crop, and, incidentally and consequently, on the revenue and spending power of the people. It is a document prepared by Mr. Walter of the Observatory Staff.
1164. It is a report on the estimation of the sugar crop. Speaking quite generally, at the present moment the revenue does not meet the expenditure ?—It has not done so during the last two years; that in to say, last year and the current year.
1165. The year which closes with the 30th of this month P-Yee.
1166. Now that you have mentioned that, I am anxious to know, from the best authority, for what reason does the financial year in this Colony run from the 1st July to the 30th June-It was changed in 1890, I think on the suggestion of the Colonial Office.
1167. Do you know any good reason for it P-It is hard to say.
I found it in that condition, and I fancy that that course in fact, I know-has been adopted With the in other Colonies where I have served. exception that it runs concurrently with the crop, I do not know that it has any very great advantage. It dose run with the crop. The crop closes on the 30th June. The planter considers that he has finished all his work for the year on the 30th June, and makes up his accounts to that date.
1168. But for Government purposes do you know any special reason for making the change —In my own mind I know none. It would be necessary for me to look up the correspondence to find out the ressons upon which it was done. It was done before I came here, and I accepted it as a fail accompli.
1169. Do you consider that the existing sources of revenue are the best that can be devised P-I am greatly in favour, in a Colony of this description, of raising revenue by indirect taxation as far as possible. It is a very difficult thing to find means of raising revenue by direct taxation, and though I think that certain alterations might be made, they would be minor alterations. I think that the indirect taxation in the shape of duties on imported goods is the safest way of reaching the whole of the population. À con. siderable amount is collected by lioanoe. I am not quite sure that I am in favour of that system.
1170. And the largest amount of all by an export duty on sugar —No, not the largest of all."
1171. What is the largest source of revenue ?—The Customs duties.
U (5)#700., kc. Wt. 18694. 12, 20, 12, 80. 6/10. E. 8.
1172 The import duties ?—Yes.
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