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2 They have also asked for a similar return from 1st January to 31st Decem- ber, 1906.

3 If the returns can be furnished I have the honour to request that they may be sent as early as possible for inclusion in the Blue Book of the Colonial Govern

ment

4 1 have already for each year rendered a return showing the actual local expenditure under the votes and the military works loan, and in addition the pay drawn by officers through their agents in England, also the value of stores sent out from England to the Commanding Royal Engineer and Chief Ordnance Officer (as supplied to me by those officers

3

If there has been expenditure under any other heading. I beg to suggest that it may be included in the returns now asked for, in order to lessen the large balance in the Colony's favour which appears probable.

SIR,

I have, &c..

J. BENBOW (Major, A.P.D.),

District Paymaster

Enclosure 2 in No. 109.

War Office, London, S. W., 23rd March, 1907.

of a letter dated 13th February, received WITH reference to the enclosed co

copy

ommand, I am commanded by the Army from the District Paymaster of your Council to inform you that the total cost of the garrison of the Straits Settlements in each year is notified by this Office to the Colonial Office after the accounts of the year have been made up, and is understood to be transmitted by that Department to the Colonial Government.

While there is no objection to the District Paymaster supplying the Colonial Government with such figures for local expenditure as you may think fit. I am to point out that it is most undesirable that attempts should be made by that officer to supply information as to other expenditure which does not pass through his books, and which is likely to create in the minds of Colonial officials a misleading impression as to the cost of the garrison.

The General Officer Commanding the Troops,

Straits Settlements. Singapore.

I am, &c..

R. H. BRADE.

19775

SIR,

No. 110

STRAITS SETTLEMENTS. COLONIAL OFFICE to WAR OFFICE.

[Copy to Governor, 13 June, 1907. No. 166. L.F

[Answered by No. 112.]

Downing Street, 11 June, 1907. I AM directed by the Earl of Elgin to acknowledge the receipt of your

of June 3rd.* with regard to the cost of the garrison of Singapore.

letter

The

2. Lord Elgin is inclined to think that the Army Council have misunderstood the nature of the information which Sir John Anderson desires to obtain. statement supplied by the District Paymaster in the Straits Settlements contains a sub-head, entitled "Expenditure not ascertainable locally." The items under this

sub-head are as follows:-

CE

Transport of troops from England. Capitation rate for native infantry recovered by India Office from War Office.

Freight on stores received from England."

Lord Elgin understands Sir John Anderson's despatch to mean that he wishes to be supplied with details as to the expenditure incurred in respect of these items, since the figures cannot be ascertained from the yearly reports furnished by the War Office. He would therefore be glad if the Army Council would cause him to be supplied with this information for the last two financial years.

22418

(No. 243.)

No. 111.

I am, &c.,

C. P. LUCAS.

| PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :--

C.O. 882

9

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO|

Enclosure 3 in No. 109.

The GENERAL. OFFICER COMMANDING THE TROOPS, Straits Settlements, to the SECRETARY, War Office.

}

SIR,

.

F

Singapore, 24th April, 1907.

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge receipt of War Office letter, dated 23rd March, 1907, and to inform you that the information which was asked for by me was required by the Straits Settlements Colonial Office to enable it to comply with the local Government Ordinance that the military contribution shall in no year exceed the actual expenditure."

The information alluded to in the first paragraph of above War Office letter arrives too late at Singapore to be of any value for the purposes of the Government Ordinance above mentioned.

As there is an active movement on foot here to agitate for a reduction of the military contribution, I was especially anxious to give all possible information to the local Government, but in accordance with your instructions I am informing them that I am unable to accede to their request.

With reference to your second paragraph I would state that the information given by my Paymaster was in accordance with instructions given to him by me, and entirely in accordance with the precedent of many years past. In future, however, no figures will be sent to the Straits Settlements Government by me, as a partial return is of no possible use to them.

I have, &c.,

T. PERROTT, Major-General

Commanding Troops, Straits Settlements.

STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.

THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

(Received 24 June, 1907.)

[Copy to War Office, 2 July, 1907. L.F.]

MY LORD,

Government House, Singapore, 30th May, 1907. In reply to your Lordship's despatch, No. 119, of the 16th ultimo, I have the honour to forward the enclosed copy of a memorandum by the Acting Treasurer in reply to the War Office letter of the 10th April, a copy of which is enclosed with the despatch. I regret the error that has taken place, and by which it appears an over-payment of $207,040 has been made for the years 1904 and 1905.

2. I shall be glad to be informed whether the Army Council accepts the amended statement embodied in that memorandum, and is disposed to agree to a final adjustment of accounts on that basis during the present year.

3. As regards contributions for future years the procedure recommended by the Army Council will be adopted.

I have, &c.,

Enclosure in No. 111.

MEMORANDUM.

JOHN ANDERSON.

I should be very glad to see the present system abolished, and the proposals of the War Office adopted. It has given rise to no small amount of confusion, and, with a staff so liable to change as the Treasury staff is under existing conditions, this system will continue to be a fruitful source of mistakes.

It was introduced by Mr. F. G. Penney in 1904 after the receipt of the instruc- tions contained in the Secretary of State's despatch of the 8th April, 1904. This form of accounts, which first appeared in the Estimates for 1905, was settled by him and the late Accountant, Mr. G. D. McIntyre, who retired about the end of last year.

12688: not printed.

• No. 109.

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↑ No. 107.