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CHBLIC

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Reference

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COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON]

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

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being unable to suggest any more satisfactory alternative which would be immediately applicable. Nevertheless it must be recog- nized that if this tax were enforced, the resulting anomalies and hardships would be sufficient to lend much force to the protests against it. I cannot in the time at my disposal before the departure of the mail deal with the subject in fuller detail.

13. Having given the above outline of the main features of the situation, there remains the question of what should be the next step to be taken. As explained in telegraphic correspondence the immediate enforcement of these measures of taxation is considered by my advisers to be almost certainly impracticable without resort to force. As all Unofficial Members of the Council have united in opposition to these proposals, the attempt to force them through the Council would almost inevitably lead to the resignation of all of them as a protest, and a demand for a general election which would serve to inflame excitement and agitation against the Government. That such an election could be carried through without violent out- breaks would be contrary to all experience. The result of the election would of course be the return of the same members as champions of the people against a tyrannical Government. It does not seem to me therefore that the measures can be carried within the limits of the present constitution. I may also repeat here what I have already stated in my telegram No. 33 that there is not a sufficient force available locally to meet such a situation should the outbreaks assume any serious proportions. circumstances I fear it could not be in any way guaranteed that they would be kept within bounds.

*

In the

14. This report has been very hurriedly compiled in order to catch the outgoing mail and its chief object is to place before you as soon as possible a fuller description of the present position than is possible by telegraph. I should wish to make further inquiries and to review the position more fully before submitting definite recommendations as to the policy to be pursued. It is obvious that the present attitude of the Council will, if persisted in, make it impossible to balance the Budget within the limits of the present constitution unless the demand that the whole burden be placed on the shoulders of the Civil Service were accepted, and even then I doubt whether an actual attempt to apply this remedy would be found practicable or would command agreement amongst the members. It may be, however, that further inquiries and con- sultations during the next few days may open possibilities of meeting the situation without proceeding immediately to extreme measures, and I think it would be unwise to precipitate matters immediately to an actual confict of strength between the Govern- ment and the Unofficial Members. I will report more fully by telegraph as soon as possible. I may, however, again point out that two very strong reasons against precipitate action are that

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there is not a sufficient force available locally to deal with the posi- tion if it reaches an extreme stage and that the superior staff avail- able at present is not, in my opinion, sufficient to carry on the Administration under those conditions.

C. 93943/32 [No. 6].

I have, &c.,

W. E. JACKSON,

Governor.

No. 60.

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

(Confidential.)

SLR,

DOWNING STREET,

2nd April, 1932.

With reference to your Confidential despatch, of the 17th of November, 1931, I have the honour to address you on the subject of the proposals of the Financial Commission for the reorganization of the Public Works Department which were contained in Chapter 8 of their Report.

2. I have consulted the Crown Agents for the Colonies regarding the proposals made by the Commissioners, acquainting them with the views expressed in your Confidential despatch under reference. I enclose a copy of a lettert which I have received from the Crown Agents, in which they express their views upon the Commissioners' proposals for the reorganization of the Public Works Department.

3. The question of the adequacy of the staff proposed by the Commissioners is largely a technical one. With the views expressed by the Crown Agents for the Colonies, I am in general agreement, and I appreciate that undue reduction of the supervising staff might tend to waste out of all proportion to the saving involved. When details of the suggested reorganization and retrenchment have been worked out by the Director of Public Works you should, however, proceed so far as you consider practicable along the lines set out by the Commissioners. I am prepared to leave to your discretion the decision as to the rate at which reorganization and retrenchment in the Public Works Department should proceed.

* No. 40.

† C. 99943/32 [No. 4]: not printed.