43
204
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To suggest an amended Bill to the Legislative Council, or
(6) To suggest an amended clause, or amended clauses, to such a Bill, or (7) To agree to refer the Bill to a Grand Committee, on a motion to that effect being put and passed in the Legislative Council, but without debate. 12. The composition of the Legislative Council, as referred to in paragraph 5 of this despatch, it is proposed shall be as follows:-
Government aide-
Governor-President.
Ex officio, six
as set out.
(1) General Officer Commanding the Troops.
Colonial Secretary.
Attorney-General.
Controller of Revenue.
Colonial Treasurer.
(6) Government Agent of the Western Province.
Nominated, fourteen official and unofficial (to include usually a member of the European Planting community and also a member of the European Commercial community and three Ceylonese).
13. As regards the elected side of the Legislative Council, I propose that the composition shall be as follows:
9 Provincial members (one to be elected for each Province).
1 Member to be elected for the Colombo municipal area.
3 European members. (One Planting member, to be elected by the Planters' Association; one Commercial member, elected by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce; one General member, elected as under existing conditions for the election of the urban member.)
1 Burgher member, elected under the existing conditions.
2 Kandyan members, elected as laid down (both may, however, be nominated
by the Governor).
19
1 Member of the Low Country Products Association, elected by the Asso-
ciation.
1 Mohammedan, nominated by the Governor.
1 From the Indian community, nominated by the Governor.
As regards the two Kandyan members, since this community is scattered over several Provinces, and since it is conceivable that at first considerable difficulty may arise in the registration of voters and in other ways, I have provided, in case of necessity, that at first both may be nominated by the Governor, should it be found that the election of these members is likely to be greatly delayed.
As regards the Mohammedan member, this community is so scattered that to attempt election would be impracticable.
As regards the Indian community, I feel likewise that election would be im- practicable, at any rate at this juncture, but may be considered at the next General Election, if warrantable.
I have included an Indian representative, since it is stated that there are 700,000 Indian subjects in Ceylon; of these, roughly, 500,000 may be said to be the Indian immigrant coolie population, the balance being either a floating population or actually domiciled in Ceylon. I consider that it would be reasonable to give the Indian community representation in the Legislative Council.
14. As regards franchise, after careful examination of the various proposals submitted for my consideration, I have decided that the following are those that I should recommend: they provide for a fairly wide franchise, and for the present, I consider, are sufficiently embracing :-
Qualifications for registration as a voter :--
(1) Must be male British subject of 21 years of age.
(2) Able to read and write Sinhalese, Tamil, or English.
(3) Resident in electoral area for one year.
(4) (a) In receipt of an income from all sources of not less than Rs.600 per
annum; or (b) occupies, as owner or tenant, a house in the electoral area
of the annual value of not less than-rural, Rs.200, urban, Rs.400; or
(c) owner of landed property in the electoral area, himself or wife, of not less value than Rs.1,500.
15. As regards the qualifications of candidates for election to the Legislative Council:
Similarly, after careful examination of the various proposals submitted to me, I have decided that the following are those which I recommend :-
(1) Must be male British subject of 25 (2) Must be on registered list of voters.
of
years age.
(3) Must have resided in the electoral area for which he is a candidate for
at least three years.
(4) Able to read, write, and speak English.
(5) Not in the service of the Crown.
(6) (a) In receipt of an income from all sources of not less than Rs.1,500 per annum; or (b) occupies, as owner or tenant, a house in the electoral area of the annual value of not less than-rural, Rs.400, urban, Rs.800; or (c) is the owner of landed property, himself or wife, in the electoral area, of not less value than Rs.6,000.
16. I have further considered the desirability of adding to the Executive Council members who shall not be officials of the Government. I have had the opportunity elsewhere of estimating the value in the deliberations of the Executive Council of the advice of those who were in no way connected with Government, and who could bring to bear upon discussions therein their experience and knowledge of affairs gained from sources other than official, and I am consequently in favour of such a proposal, and I recommend that the Executive Council be as follows:-
1 The Governor.
1 General Officer Commanding the Troops.
1 The Colonial Secretary.
1 The Attorney-General.
1 The Treasurer.
2 Government Agents.
1 Controller of Revenue.
2 Members not being Government officials. (Usually one European and one Ceylonese would be nominated by the Governor from among the nomin- ated unofficial members on the Government side of the Legislative Council.
17. The life of the Legislative Council shall be for five years, unless dissolvea earlier, and the appointments of nominated members will terminate upon dissolution the appointments of nominated unofficial members of the Executive Council wil similarly terminate.
18. I have endeavoured to deal with the broad outlines of these proposals, which I desire to submit for your consideration. There are certain details which can be dealt with when the general principles have been accepted, and with which I need not burden this despatch.
I have given the matter very earnest consideration, and I have endeavoured to satisfy in the Constitution which I propose, the aspirations of those who desire to obtain a larger share in the responsibilities for advising Government in regard to matters of domestic policy, and I trust that this step in advance of the present Constitution may eventually pave the way for larger responsibilities, which it may be found desirable later on to grant when the success of this scheme of reform may have proved that a larger share of control may be wisely given to the representa- tives of the people, and I would suggest, after five years' experience of the working of these proposals, then that a further consideration of the whole matter might be conveniently undertaken.
I have, &c.,
W. H. MANNING.
Governor, &c.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
ICO. 882/10
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
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