70
while the contribution during the same period has variet between $1,214,340 and $1.372,487. Taking the dollar is equivalent to 18. 9.. the highest contribution has been £120,092, or say £120,000, while the lowest post has been £412,045, say, £412,000. Thus, taking the extremo case, as in Mauritius, the contribution works out at 99-1 per cent, of the ust.
On the other hand, there can be no doubt that the garrison, which has been only recently employed in the protection of British settlements in the Treaty ports, is stationed at Hong Kong very fargely for the interests of the Empire: and if further proof were required of the Imperial importance of Hong Kong, it is to be found in the following admission by the War Office :—
Secret
The Council are, however, of opinion that in certain W.O, cases the unrestricted sale of land might seriously 40784/11. endanger the safety of the defence of Hong Kong, the strategical importance of which as our principal maval I am to base in the Far East, cannot be doubted point out that the land defence of a naval base is a matter for which the War Office, and not the Admiralty, is mainly responsible." We know from recent correspond. ence that the local military authorities are not satisfied as to the adequacy of the defences or of the garrison. In fact there appears to be a tendency to regard the Colony as a Bort of Eastern Gibraltar, ¡e., as a fortress of the utmost Imperial importance. This being the case, it is clear that local interests are of very secondary importance. In fact, the position is, that either the colony should be rendered safe against any probable attack, or that the garrison might be withdrawn for all the practical value that it possesses. On this ground alone, it is clearly unjust that the Colony should continue to pay a large contribution for an expen- sive and inefficient protection.
The unofficial members of the Council have suggested $1,000,000, as the maximum contribution, and I am inclined to think that this sum represents the utmost benefit received by the Colony in respect of its garrison.
The question of the contributions of the Eastern Colonies may be summed up, shortly, as follows :-
With the exception of Mauritius, they pay more than can fairly be demanded of them, bearing in mind the fact that the garrisons are stationed in the Colonies for purposes which are more closely connected with Imperial strategical requirements than with local needs. Pending the decision of the question whether all Crown Colonies ought to con- tribute towards the general defence of the Empire, it is clearly unfair that the Eastern Colonies should pay more than the proportion of the cost of their land defence, which represents local as against Imperial requirements. There fore, unless His Majesty's Government decide to call on all Crown Colonies to contribute towards the cost of Imperial defence, the military contributions in the Eastern Colonies (except Mauritius) should be reduced. These are the grounds of principle. On the ground of expediency it is only necessary to recall the fact that if the unofficial members of the Councils of these Colonies adopted the line taken by the unofficials in Jamaica over a small aftair A, 191, of compensation for wrongful detention of a ship, and p. xi. resigned over the question of contribution, there is no doubt that the Home Government would either have to give way, or have to establish an unofficial majority in the Councils, which would ensure that no increase of contribu tion would be made, and would probably mean a large
▼
Tables A. B.C
71
reduction in, if not the total abolition of, the present contributions Though the Treasury and War Office cannot, or will not. understand the situation, the fact is that, in questions which arouse keen public interest, the Secretary of State can no longer drive the Crown
Colonies.
I annex three statistical tables for Ceylon, the Straits Settlements, and Hong Kong; the returns necessary for the compilation of a similar table have not been furnished by the War Office in the case of Mauritius.
I also annex, for future reference, a list of the printed papers which are quoted or referred to in this Memo- randum, and a list of other printed matter which I have consulted. The lists may prove useful to anyone who wishes to examine this question in detai!.
J. R.,
15th May, 1912.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 882
6
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-| COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
TABLE A.
Cost of Garrison : Ceylon,
Icar
1901-2
1002 3.
1903-4.
19044 3.
1905-6.
1906:
1917 M.
1908 9,
1909 10
1910 11.
Estimate
1914 12.
Estiinated.
1912 13
£
Pay of Army
Medical Establishment... Educational Establishment Transport, Barrack Services, Lodging Allowances ...
£
84,160 62,800 64.000
5,750
3,500
3,500
423
272
272
£
£
P1,868
4,000
439
£
74,751
3,79%
353
23,094
£
70,818
3,217
£
•
£
£
£
48,05
2,522
48,317
2,846
51,310
2,580
50,220
2,500
52.270
2,500
277
224
183
189
11,355 22,504
12,581
12,915
170
7,115
1700
Provisions, Forage, Fuel, Light,
54,807
54,807 62,237
63,542
30,971
&c., and Clothing
Ordnance
Department Estab
3,020
lishment and Stores.
30,000
Armaments and Engineer Storea
Works and Buildings-Pay of
8,630
60,000
8.770
22,154 57,179
9,345 9,000
28,057
479 759
11,520 10,300 10,396 0,756 6,597
3,102
19,674
20,853
21,572
6.330
21,510
2,570
5.853
8,748
Staff and
maintenance of
buildings.
Miscellaneous Services ...
179
179
546
112
280
Total
Non-effective charges
Home Effective charges
Pay of Army Accounts Depart-
161,388 +190,328 219,605,193,300 20,800 20,800 12,000 ; 12,000 Not given Not
21,867 13,381 13,578 Not
Not
א20,51
120
183
393 158,478 112,947 101,786 102,139 12014SE 9812
9,800
12.772 0.001 19,233 1,131 1,4:0
2,273
7,920 12,489 1,416
1,390 1,018
1,516
1,300
230
200
90,365
102
93, 150
Not
given.
ment.
Grand Total
given. given. given. 194,188223,128 | 254,833 227,396
191,500 165,161 111,853 117,491 135,311
90,369 203,1801
Garrison
Strength of Garrison: all Ranks.
1,778
1,801
1,812
1,826
1,668
804
1,220 1,175 1.194
1,201 1,281
1,283
Nodes. 52.1601) In 1901 2 and 1902-3, the figures were struck
2,500
170
7.417
24,030
23,320
9ồn
2,976 920 22,630 Not given Not given Not given 6,040
3,870 5,968
6,183
of an average, after de- ducting the estimatel Cost of foer prisoners, and capital expenditure on lands and buildings. (2) The bracketed ser-
vices in 190l -4 were not shown separately.
(3) The figures for 1910 11, 1911-12 and 1912 13 are taken from the Army This also
Estimates. applies to the tigures of the strength of the garri- They do not in- elude aribamenta, Rea
Boll,
Not given Not given transport, and other
ammanation
home charges.
MIDTO.
יו!
The contribution las had to be worked out from the W.0) returns in the later years. 2- definite figures for the calendar or colonial year are given by W‚0, or the Colony
£
223
93,500
93,500
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