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PUBLIC

༄། །༄། ། །

RECORD OFFICE

Reference -

C.O.882/1

ઢા રઠ

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE. LONDON ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BF REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO

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closed for passenger traffic with the exception of a daily service of five trains each way between Port Louis and Curepipe, while the General Manager recommends that the existing passenger service of twelve trains daily each way between Port Louis and Curepipe should be reduced to eight trains per day each way, and that the passenger services on the rest of the railway should remain prac- tically unaltered.

4. The distance from Port Louis to Curepipe is sixteen miles and the passenger revenue on this section amounts to one-half of the total passenger revenue of the railway. In view of the density of the passenger service between Port Louis and Curepipe, there appear to be sound reasons for retaining passenger services on this section. Further in view of the fact that one-half of the total passenger traffic is concentrated in a small section of the line, it would appear that passenger services elsewhere might be closed down without very serious inconvenience. I do not think there- fore that the Financial Commissioners' recommendation was un- sound; on the other hand, as is pointed out in Sir Wilfred Jack- son's despatch under reference, a considerable closing down of passenger services would entail the discharge of employees for whom it is unlikely that other work could be found, and for this reason the Governor favours the General Manager's recommenda. It tion in preference to that of the Financial Commissioners. should be noted that the Financial Commissioners anticipated that if their recommendations were put into effect the railway deficit would amount to Rs.43,000. The General Manager thinks that if his recommendations are carried out the deficit will not exceed Rs.236,337. It remains to be seen of course whether the anticipa- tions of the General Manager in regard to revenue and expenditure will in fact be realized. As figures of revenue and expenditure are prepared monthly the position can be closely watched.

5. I must now refer briefly to the two sections of the line which The the Financial Commissioners recommend should be closed.

A road Montagne Longue Branch is only four miles in length. runs parallel to it throughout its length, and it would probably make very little difference to the railway or to the general public whether the line were kept open or closed. The Bois Cheri line is in a different category. It is made up of a number of short sạc- tions and sidings, and it is 24 miles in length. It is of narrow gauge and much of it is laid with rails weighing only 14 lb. per yard, which have been in the track for about 26 years. It is not a railway in the ordinary acceptance of the term, but a light line of the type which planters lay on their estates for the conveyance of commodities. The General Manager, anticipates that if, the Montagne Longue Branch and the Bois Cheri line are, kept open the revenue and expenditure of these lines will just about balance, and in the circumstances I am prepared to agree that they should not be closed down at present.

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6. Having regard to all the circumstances, I also agree with the suggestion made in paragraph 13 of Sir Wilfred Jackson's despatch Scheme under reference, namely, that the General Manager's

(B) should be proceeded with. The actual revenue and expendi- ture should be compared monthly with the General Manager's estimate, and the whole position should again be reviewed at the end of the present financial year, when I shall be glad to be fur- nished with a further report dealing specifically with :—

(a) the financial results of retaining passenger traffic over the lines as a whole; and

(b) the financial results of keeping open the Montagne Longue and the Bois Cheri lines.

In this connexion I would also draw your attention to the import-

ance of the Annual Report on the Railway being submitted as soon as possible after the close of the financial year.

I have, &c.,

P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER.

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PUBLIC PECORD OFFICE

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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MILITARY CONTRIBUTION.

C. 93957/32 [No. 11].

No. 79.

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

(Sent 5 p.m., 1st July, 1932.)

[Answered by No. 80.]

No. 115. Confidential. My telegram No. 102 Second para- graph. I am happy to inform you that the Treasury and War Office have now agreed to the military contribution of Mauritius being reduced to £15,000 for each of the two years 1932-33 and 1933-34 as an act of grace, designed to meet the financial emer- gency due in part to the damage caused by the burricane of March, 1931. This concession is a strictly temporary arrangement, and will be without prejudice to the basis of contribution in subsequent years. You may announce this locally.-CUNLIFFE-LISTER.

C. 93957/32 [No. 14].

No. 80.

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

(Reccired 10.9 a.m., 2nd July, 1932.)

[Answered by No. 81.]

2nd July. No. 107. Confidential. Your telegram No. 115. Military contribution concession will be most helpful and I am con. fident will be warmly appreciated locally.

Income tax and increased licence duty have not yet, however. been actually passed and I Consider it advisable that announcement in respect of military contribution should be accompanied by state- ment that in making this concession Home authorities are con fident that local efforts towards retrenchment will be in no way

+ No. 79.

* C. 93957/32 [No. 8]; not printed.

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relaxed and that additional taxation, which it is considered financial situation imperatively requires, will be duly adopted. May I state this on your behalf?

I presume that above concession has not yet been made public in London as I should like to choose appropriate moment for announcement locally.

Should be glad of reply by telegraph with the least possible delay.

C. 93957/32 [No. 15].

No. 81.

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

(Sent 2.30 p.m., 2nd July, 1932.)/

It is not

No. 116. Confidential. Your telegram No. 107.* desirable to give this concession too much the appearance of a bargain and would be preferable for you to state that it is made as a further contribution by His Majesty's Government to the solution of the financial difficulties of the Colony but that His Majesty's Government are confident that it will not be regarded as rendering possible any relaxation of retrenchment or deferment of the addi- tional taxation which has been proposed, and is imperatively required.

No announcement is being made in London and you may choose time of local announcement at your discretion.-CUNLIFFE-LISTER.

* No. 80.

(10430-2) W1, 3508-2648 30 8/33 P. 8t, G.3