CO885(1-2) — Page 153

}

26

change in the scale of expenditure of the Local Government be established, which has been acknow- ledged both by the Right Honourable the Secretary of State and all reflecting persons both in and out of the colony, to have become imperatively neces-

sary.

24. Your petitioners therefore carnestly and respectfully pray that your Excellency in relief of their distress will be pleased to order :-

"1. That the projected Government Bank of Issue be immediately established in order that ad- vances on sugar be furnished without delay by it, to merchants and planters as contemplated.

"2. That the export duty on sugar of ninepence hundred pounds weight which may be shipped be- tween the present date and the 31st December next be given up.

"3. That from and after the 1st January, 1849, the whole taxation of the colony, whether in the form of customs duties, internal revenues, immigration taxes or sugar export duty, be reduced by one-half, as being the utmost amount which it will be possible

for this Island of Mauritius to contribute for the support of its internal Civil Government for the future.

And your petitioners will ever pray. "Port Louis, November 1848."

The Committee then applied for permission to hold meetings in the country for the purpose of getting signatures to the petitions. The Governor answered that as the petitions had been printed in the newspapers, parties could sign them without holding public meetings for the purpose; never- theless, he would not object to such meetings, if the inhabitants wished for them.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference -

ITC.O. 885

1 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO