CO882-10 — Page 350

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336

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

TILL CO.

882/10

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO

Low Country

1,927,700

1,005,600

110,600

***

56,000

1,700

680,800

སྤྲ, ནྡྲ་ཟླ , ཎྜ ནྱ ཎྜ ཧི

Enclosure 1 in No. 3.

Ceylon

Tamila.

ESTPRI

Tamila.

Ceylon

Hoora.

Burghers

Europassa.

Malays

Oshers.

514,800

606,700

251,600

24,600

92,900

51,900

16,800

29,100

18,700

$4,600

18,800

7,000

18,300

11,000

9,900

40,900

26,500

14,400

3,100

14,600

5,900

11,100

284,300

33,500

7,500

2,800

4,100

2900

1,400

362,400

12,700

500

190

099

101

250

1,800

19,700

20,600

21,200

6,500

00%*101

2,100

75,500

009

008

OOR

1,600

1,100

00%

110

1,400

19

8,963

164,400

264,800

18,800

23,900

27,900

3,600

900

800

1,300

1,100

000'9

006'99

6,100

4,700

10,800

COT

009

200

100

1,000

13,100

134,900

3,000

88,200

6,100

1,400

700

700

1,100

48,500

802,700

2,500

99,20)

12,600

2,900

008

500

2,200

10

the representatives of the Low Country Products Association. In the majority are included the votes of the three European elected members, the elected Burgher member, the member for the Southern Province (territorially elected), the Moham- medan member, the Indian member, the two Kandyan members, and the three nominated members, so that if the votes of the Unofficials alone are taken, there was a majority of twelve to eleven against the suggestion.

(3) I can state unequivocally that no exception has been taken in any responsible quarter to the manner in which the power to nominate three members to the existing Council has been exercised. The view of those who supported the proposal seemed to be that these nominated members were a solecism which should be removed.

(4) I feel that though the majority of the Unofficial vote against the sugges tion is but one-and therefore cannot be taken to show that there is a decided opposition to the suggestion on the part of the Unofficial members as a whole--the suggestion should not be accepted. In the present stage of the Constitution, when experience in the exercise of the franchise is not widespread, I am strongly of opinion that it makes for the greater strength and efficiency of the Legislative Council if the Governor retains the present limited power to appoint as members of the Legislative Council representative gentlemen who might not be successful at the polls, but who would otherwise be of value in the deliberations of the Council. and in certain cases might also be selected in view of the inadequate representation of their community in Council.

L. SUGGESTION XII.

" That clause 51 of the Order in Council be repealed."

When the Ceylon (Legislative Council) Order in Council, 1920, was first made public, clause 51 raised very great opposition on the grounds, amongst others, that it might be used to curtail the freedom of debate, that it deprived the Council intended to be constituted by the Order in Council of a privilege possessed by its predecessors, and that it was a slur on the loyalty of the Colony.

(3) To a deputation which I received on the 29th November, 1920, with reference to the Order in Council. I explained that its provisions were only intended to be applied in times of grave emergency, and that therefore it was improbable that they would ever be brought into operation in Ceylon, but that, as they were regarded as a slur on the loyalty of the Colony, I was prepared to recommend to the Secretary of State the elimination of the clause, provided that it was clearly under- stood that if experience in the future proved that it was required, Government would be free to take measures for its re-enactment.

(4) This suggestion was agreed to without a division, and in the terme, and subject to the condition of the undertaking given by me, I desire to recommend the elimination of clause 51.

(11

**

M.-SUGGESTION XIII.

That a proviso be added to clause 52 of the Order in Council as follows:-

'Provided, however, any member or members dissenting from the certification of the Governor may put in a written statement of his or their reasons for such dissent, and such statement shall be appended to the report required in the succeeding section.""

(2) The suggestion was adopted without a division, and I submit it for your favourable consideration.

I have, &c.,

W. H. MANNING,

Governor.

...

...

...

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Western Province

Western Province (salasive Colombo) Colombo Town

CentralProvince

Northern Province

Southern Province

Eastern Province

:.

North Western Province North Central Province

Province of Uva

Province of Babaragamuwa

τισμένο

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