306
ummih
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference:
C.O.882/11
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
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6. Forty years have now clapsed, and, in the year 1920, considerable riches accumulated in the Island through the sale of the sugar crop to the Mother Country at a very high price. Indians, who were the day before comparatively poor, found themselves suddenly at the head of big fortunes. As was bound to happen, new desires, aims and ambitions developed along with the pecuniary positions; but, unfortunately, education could not be purchased immediately with money. richest men aspired to become leaders and politics seemed to be a convenient arena within which a trial of strength could be made.
The
7. The economic conditions of the Colony are liable to be profoundly disturbed if the new ambitions created by such a sudden stroke of fortune are not satisfied. Our present system of representation, with a common electoral roll, puts up for competition the seats in Council; and Mauritians and Indians are incited to try their In a competition where there are victors and strength as to who should win. vanquished, a spirit of resentment and of retaliation is bound to subsist; and, when one considers that that state of things exists in an essentially agricultural Colony, where one-third of the population requires the assistance of the other two- thirds to till their fields, one cannot but be alarmed by any measure that tends to create friction between those two complementary portions of the population.
8. The population of Mauritius is heterogeneous, consisting of the descendants of the original settlers and of others of mixed blood, all Christians and educated in a large majority. They number about 125,000 and constitute what is denominated The remainder, about in the Colonial Office List "The General Population.** 250,000, are for the greater part almost illiterate and constitute the Asiatic population (Hindus and Mahomedans). There exists a common electoral roll and the qualifica- There is also a handful of tions are the same for both Mauritians and Indians.
Chinese.
ever.
9.
In 1921 elections began to he fought on racial lines in the District of Grand Port No Indian was returned. In 1926 the elections were more keenly fought than There were 3 candidates: 2 Mauritians and 1 Indian. The Indian electors numbering 500 centred their votes on their kinsman and he was returned for the district by 424 votes. The elections were fought racially. It can hardly be argued that the Mauritian electors are represented by the Indian candidate. without representation although they are more numerous,
They are left
In the district of Flacq the opposing candidates, a Mauritian and an Indian. were at the antipodes of education and attainments and yet the Indian carried the day, for the voting took place on racial lines too.
10. It is surprising that the two main factors upon which should rest the whole political edifice of this Colony, viz., the franchise and the heterogeneous nature of the population should not have attracted the attention of the elected members of the Council when framing a plan. The one approved of by the Council in September 1925 simply ainus at strengthening the position of the Mauritian in the country districts by a makeshift: the granting of the vote to shareholders in Limited Liability content with simply Companies. They feel the edifice threatens ruin and are patching it up.
The other plan submitted to Council in March, 1927, demands Representative Government. The majority of the Council voted against the proposal.
11. Communal representation, the ideal form of representation for Colonies with a heterogeneous population, found no advorate in Council. It is with a view to filling up that gap that we are submitting to you this Memorandum.
12. We have followed with very great interest the campaign conducted in Ceylon and in Kenya at the time their Constitution was revised and we have picked out from the recommendations of the Governor, Brigadier-General Sir W. H. Manning, G.C.M.G., K.B.E., C.B., &c., and the decisions of the Secretary of State, His Grace The Duke of Devonshire, K.G., G.C.M.G., G.C.V.O., the guiding principles of Imperial policy regarding elective representation in the Crown Colonies.
13. For sake of brevity we need not recite them here at full length; but we hope we are making a request which is within the limits of what is grantable if we ask that political representation in Mauritius should, in future, be effected on a communal basis. That Society in our Colony is communally organised is so self- evident as not to require discussion. One fact, however, shows it at first sight: even after death we notice that the different communities mean to be buried in communal sections and at Phoenix Cemetery we can see boards marked "Christian
"Hindoo Section,' Mahomedan Section." Section.
"7 "
14. Communal representation would, no doubt, be welcomed by the Mahomedan population. They are scattered in small groups all over the island and cannot hope to return, under the present system, any representative of their faith. If they were
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inscribed on a communal register for the whole Island they would be able to elect say 2 representatives. By means of a wide franchise a great number could be given the vote and their education and future political development would be greatly benefited thereby.
15. Acting then under the rules of Imperial policy, viz.. the granting of abeterogeneous population whose communal representation to a Colony vitn different communities live communally; and the allocation of representatives in such a manner as to prevent one community from having political supremacy over the other communities, if the latter are supported by Government, we beg leave to submit for your consideration a skeleton Council elected on the above principles.
16. There would be 3 electoral rolls :-
The 1st roll would admit all Mauritian Christians irrespective of race or class: the franchise being on an educational basis.
The 2nd roll would admit all the Hindus of the Island eligible to vote. The 3rd roll would admit all the Mahomedans of the Island eligible to vote. 17. The constituencies, as at present arranged, would be retained for the election of Mauritian candidates. In accordance with the plan approved of by the There Council of Government in September, 1925, the elected Mauritian members could be increased from 10 to 12, there being 1 additional member for Port Louis and 1 addi- tional member for Plaines Wilhems, the two most important constituencies. would thus be 12 elected members to represent the General Population.
The eligible Hindus would be inscribed on one electoral roll for the whole island The franchise could be made much wider and would elect say 3 of their best men. so as to reach a large number of electors.
The same procedure could be followed for the Mahomedans and they could be allowed two representatives. They have up to now been content with one nominated member to represent their interests.
18 The Council elected on the above principles would be composed of :
HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR, President.
8 Ex-Officio Members, viz. :
The Officer Commanding the Troops. The Hon. The Colonial Secretary.
The Procureur General.
:1
"1
22
33
31
""
93
Receiver General
Collector of Customs.
Director of Public Works.
Director of the Medical and Health Department. Protector of Immigrants.
12 Territorially Elected Members, viz. :
3 for Port Louis
2 Plaines Wilhems
Pamplemousses
District
""
51
1
17
"
1
31
Rivière du Rempart
21
1
Flacq
""
1
Grand Port
#1
Savanne
1
Black River
31
1
Moka
""
5 Communally Elected Members, viz., :
2
"1
$1
3 to represent the Hindu Community.
Mahomedan
T
6 Nominees, 2 to represent the interests of British residents and of British Commerce; the remaining to be so elected as to restore in the first instance the equilibrium, if destroyed at the elections, between the two classes of the Mauritian element. If not so employed, those seats might be offered to gentlemen who, although not caring to solicit the suffrage of the electorate, would nevertheless be prepared to place their valuable services at the disposal of Governnient.
19. There would be an unofficial majority in ordinary questions of finance, reserve being made for questions considered as being of paramount importance."
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