24
My Lords recognize the great advantage of commuting military charges for a fixed percentage of revenue, so far as regards convenience, avoidance of delay, and triction and saving of correspondence. On the other hand, the having to recover the cost of new works from the Colonial Government has been a powerful check on expenditure and has led to the postponement of much important outlay. When the charge has been commuted the Colonial Government, instead of opposing expendi ture, will be inclined to press for its being incurred.
Nothwithstanding this risk of increased charge, however, my Lords cannot oppose the proposed arrangement, in principle, if the War Office and Colonial Office combine in recommending it.
As regards the sufficiency of an increase of the percentage from 17 to 20 per cent., my Lords note that in the Treasury letter to the Colonial Office of 14th June, 1895, of which a copy was sent to the War Office on the same day, it is represented that 11 per cent of the revenue would cover the military charges excluded from the fixed contribution. They also observe that in the 12 years from 1885 to 1896, the average charge for new works and lodging allowances has been about $86,000 per annum or considerably less than 2 per cent. of the revenue of recent years.
Judging from the past, therefore, the proposed increase will be amply sufficient; ut whether it will be so for the future depends upon the restraint that can be exercised on expenditure.
The increase of contribution should not affect the liability of the Colony to provide, free of charge, any available colonial military land required for sites for military works.
Subject to the foregoing remarks my Lords concur in the proposal of the Serre- tary of State
25
should be based upon the net receipts derived from any public telephone system established in the Colony, in the same way as has already been agreed upon in regard to railway receipts.
2. I have now to request that you will introduce an Ordinance to amend Ordinance No. VI of 1899 by adding the following proviso to Section 3, namely:
"Provided that the charges for working expenses and maintenance of any railways, telephones, or other productive undertakings of a similar character which may hereafter be established, and for interest and sinking fund on any sums borrowed for the construction of such railways, telephones, or undertakings, shall be deducted from the gross receipts of such railways, telephones, or undertakings, respectively, and the percentage struck on the net receipts only, if any, in each case.'
>>
3. You will observe that this proviso would cover the case of "other productive undertakings "besides railways and telephones which may hereafter be carried out by the Colonial Government, but this extension of the principle has been agreed to by Her Majesty's Government on the distinct understanding that no undertaking shan be deemed to be of a similar character to railways and telephones for the purpose of the clause without previous reference in each case being made to the Secretary of State for the Colonies.
4. I take this opportunity of enclosing a copy of a letter which I have caused to be addressed to the Treasury on the subject of the liability of the Colony to provide sites for military purposes.
I have, &c.,
J. CHAMBERLAIN.
I am, &c.,
FRANCIS Mowatt.
34094
No. 20.
21810
SIR.
No. 18.
•
STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.
COLONIAL OFFICE to TREASURY.
[Copy to War office. September 18, 1899. L.F. See No. 20.]
Downing Street, 18 September, 1899. In reply to your letter of the 17th ultimo.* on the subject of the Straits Settle- ments Defence Contribution Ordinance, I am directed by Mr. Secretary Chamber- lain to request you to inform the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury that he admits that the Colonial Government will be still liable to provide free of charge any available unoccupied Crown land which may be shown to be required for military purposes; the War Department on the other hand being bound to freely surrender to the Colony any sites no longer required for such purposes: but such provision of sites does not concern the Legislature, and cannot therefore be properly secured by Ordinance. The matter will continue to be dealt with by Executive action.
A copy of this letter will be communicated to the War Office and to the Govern- ment of the Colony.
21810
(No. 273.) SIR,
#
No. 19.
STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.
I am, &c.,
C. P. LUCAS.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNOR. [Answered by No. 22.]
Downing Street, 18 September, 1899.
I HAD the honour to inform you by telegraph on the 24th June last, that Her Majesty's Government agreed to your proposal that the military contribution
• No. 17.
† No. 13.
SIR,
STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.
WAR OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE.
(Received December 7, 1899.)
[Answered by No. 21.]
War Office, London, S.W., 5th December, 1899. WгTH reference to your letter of 18th September last, No. 21810/99,† I am directed by the Secretary of State for War to request that he may be favoured with a copy of any addition to the Straits Settlements Defence Contribution Ordinance that may be enacted.
34094
SIR,
No. 21.
I am, &c.,
FRANK T. MARZIALS.
STRAITS SETTLEMENTS. COLONIAL OFFICE to WAR OFFICE.
Downing Street, 12 December, 1899.
I AM directed by Mr. Secretary Chamberlain to request you to inform the Marquess of Lansdowne that the military contribution of the Straits Settlements for 1900 is estimated at $1,002,824.60, being 20 per cent. of the estimated revenue (less land sales) for 1900.
2. From the above amount the sum of $92,772.67 will be deducted, being one- third of the repayment from 1895 to 1897, as shown in the statement forwarded in the letter from this Office of the 27th of June last. The net amount payable will therefore be $910,051.93.
3. I am to take this opportunity of stating, in reply to your letter of the 5th instant,§ that the Ordinance to amend the Straits Settlements Defence Contri- bution Ordinance will be forwarded as soon as it has been received.
I am, &c.,
C. P. LUCAS.
• No. 18.
↑ L.F. transmitting copy of No. 18.
15018 not printed.
§ No. 20.
拉
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
C.O. 882
Reference :-
9 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
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