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Telegram from the Secretary of State for the Colonies to the Governor of Mauritius.

(Sent 11.15 p.m., 13th May, 1931.)

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26

Number of persons relieved by me :-

C. 84556/31 [No. 52],

Date.

Curepipe.

Indoor. Outdoor.

Vacoas. Outdoor.

Midlandi. Outdoor.

No. 12.

Friday, 6th

450

Saturday, 7th

050

40

Sunday, 8th

400

300

4,089

Monday, 9th

400

400

637

Tuesday, 10th

345

677

Wednesday, 11th

150

1,342

Thursday, 12th

120

849

Friday, 13th

120

348

Saturday, 14th

120

26

Sunday, 15th

120

25

Total

2,875

4,006

4,089

537

s

The money spent for all reliefs in Curepipe and Midlands, although all accounts are not yet in hand, can be safely estimated to be about Rs. 1,300-if anything it will be less, but not above, Pi.e., approximately .18 eents per person per day. In Vacoas it will

not exceed Rs.400.

I should like to take this opportunity to bring to your knowledge and special notice those that have so wonderfully helped me to rescue and relieve thousands of sufferers.

I shall first name Sub-Inspector Moussié and my Dispenser, Mr. Ignace Vencatasamy, for their high sense of duty, devotion, bravery, and self sacrifice to have followed me everywhere and through the worst of the cyclone, day and night, and thereby enabling me to save the lives of many persons as above related.

Miss Lucienne Guimbeau, the Midwife of Curepipe, and her sister devoted themselves admirably to their patients and the worst sufferers.

P.C. Fraser and Mr. Charles Lamb have been of very great assistance to us, and their conduct deserves mention.

The ambulance driver and my own chauffeur have also been up to the mark, and their faithful and courageous assistance was appreciable.

18th March, 1931.

J. MAINGARD,

P.L.O. and G.M.O.,

Plaines Wilhems.

[Answered by No. 13]

No. 48. Confidential. Your telegram No. 52. I consider that decision as to La Nicolière should be postponed pending inquiry by Financial Commission; as, however, the matter has not yet been considered by the Colonial Development Advisory Committee, and, in any case, Financial Commission might decide to recom- mend going on with the work, 1 propose that amount of loan should not exceed £750,000, of which £150,000 will be allocated to public works ", other than repair and replacement of Govern- ment property damaged by hurricane. If it is eventually decided not to proceed with La Nicolière the £150,000 will be available, if necessary, for other works.

Procedure proposed is to pass Imperial Act as soon as possible, and then ask Council of Government to pass the necessary local It will, however, Ordinance authorizing the issue of the loan.

probably be impossible to get Act through before the middle of July and, in order that loan inay be issued before the holiday season begins in August if market favourable, it will be necessary to pass the Mauritius Ordinance immediately the Act is passed. propose, therefore, to send to you by an early mail a draft Ordinance, any amendments of which can be settled by telegram before the middle of July.

I

It is conceivable that some (possibly the greater part) of the money will be needed before the loan is actually raised. If so, it will be possible to obtain this either by advances from the Crown Agents or by the issue through them of Mauritius Treasury Bills, and 1 should be glad to know as soon as possible what sums will be needed for repairs to Government property and advances to planters, etc.. before the end of July. Will legislation be necessary before any money at all can be advanced? If so will there be any difficulty about passing that legislation before the Ordinance author- izing the raising of the loan?

I shall also be glad to have your proposals for the constitution and terms of reference of the Commission to make recommendations for the advances, also the best revised estimate you can give of amount required for loans to planters having regard to conditions to be attached.-l'ASSFIELD.

* C. 84556/31 [No: 44]: not printed.

CUBLIC

། ༄།། ༄།

PECORD OFFICE

ווך זוון

Reference :-

C.O.882/12

| COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO|

AF

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE

REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

C. 84456/31 [No 56].

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