L. S. AMERY.
1
80
members of the Authority, within the halls of its palatial place of meeting fade away and merge in a common desire for technical and industrial progress. In this particular direction-the control of the Port-public ownership and a managerial system in consonance with the interests of users, and in which they directly participate, have heen combined with a conspicuous measure of success. It is not improbable that the “control of tradling undertakings by municipal authorities will, in the very near future. have to make some corresponding provision for the consumer. the user, and the expert.
81
3. I presume that if the proposals of the Special Commission are adopted, the Colombo Port Commission will continue to exist and will be able to furnish the Minister with expert advice. You will no doubt consider whether it would be expedient to provide by Ordinance for the existence and constitution of the Commission in order that shipping interests might have some assurance that adequate opportunity would be given for the expression of their views before administrative action was taken in connection with ports, harbours and shipping.
1 have, &c.,
353
C. 53429 28 10 [No. 7].
No. 49.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNOR.
(Confidential.)
SIR,
Downing Street, 5th March, 1929. Is my despatch No. 5 of the 3rd of January,* 1 replied to a memorial addressed to me by the Chiefs of the Central Province regarding certain recommendations of the Special Commission on the Constitution of Ceylon.
2. This memorial referred in the main to the recommendations made in Chapter 7 of the Report, which deals with local administration, and I take this oppor- tunity of conveying to you my views as to the action properly to be taken on these recommendations.
1
3. The problems of local government in Ceylon are so complex, and require for their proper study so complete a knowledge of local history and traditions, that I should be reluctant to deal with details of local administration, village government, and the like, except on the advice of officers who have spent their lives in the service of Ceylon and fully understand the history and working of the village committees and other local bodies. It would not be my intention to include any detailed provisions as to local government in any Order in Council which may be prepared for the amend- nent of the Constitution as a result of the Report of the Special Commission, and I should not regard the proposals in Chapter 7 of the Report as an essential part of the scheme of the Special Commission.
+. I have, however, no doubt that you will give the recommendations contained in this Chapter your very careful consideration and will, in due course and as oppor- tunity serves, submit proposals for putting into effect such features of the recom- mendations as may appear to you necessary and desirable.
I have, &c.,
C. 53429/28/8 [No. 24].
No. 51.
COLONIAL OFFICE to ADMIRALTY.
SIR,
[Answered by No. 63.]
Downing Street, 13th May, 1929. I AM directed by Mr. Secretary Amery to transmit to you, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, the accompanying prints of correspond- ence* with the Governor of Ceylon, the Board of Trade and the Chamber of Shipping of the United Kingdom, on the subject of the control over ports, harbours and shipping in Ceylon, under the proposals of the Special Commission on the Constitution.
2. I am to add that the Report of the Special Commission on the Constitution of Ceylon has been published as a Parliamentary Paper, Command 3131.
C. 63230/29 [No. 7].
No. 52.
I am, &c.,
H. R. COWELL.
། ། ། *
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 882/11
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
C. 63230/29/4 [No. 2].
No. 50.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNOR.
(Confidential.)
L. S. AMERY.
Downing Street, 25th March, 1929.
SIR,
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Confidential despatch of the 9th of February,† on the subject of the control over ports, harbours and shipping under the proposals of the Special Commission on the Constitution.
2. I anticipated that you would hot consider it expedient that the proposals should be varied so as to remove the control of ports, harbours and shipping from Ministers, but it did not occur to me that there would be the same objection to the creation of a Port Trust. Such a Trust would be under the general control of a Minister although, by the exercise of statutory powers, it would be able to conduct its ordinary business without interference. As regards your suggestion that such an arrangement would result in the control of the port being monopolised by individual shipping interests, I think that it should be possible to secure in the constitution of such a Trust adequate representation for all-important interests in the Island, and I should like you to give this question of a Port Trust your further consideration.
* No. 44.
↑ No. 48.
THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 11.37 a.m., 14th June, 1929.)
TELEGRAM
[Answered by No. 54.]
14TH JUNE. Reference your telegram 15th May.† Despatch containing my recommendation, in regard to the Special Committee's Report. was forwarded by mail due on the 29th June. As it is lengthy I had it printed and have sent you fifty copies. I apologise for the delay. I think that the offer of the scheme as a whole would probably now be accepted by the majority of the Unofficial Members especially if you could adopt my suggestions as to franchise. They do not conflict with any principles of the Report as understood by me. I cannot, however, guarantee accept- ance after the General Election.
I have recommended extension of the life of the present Council until the end of the calendar year. This would give time for decision of the offer and would have further advantage that the General Election could then be fought on up-to-date register which under rule scheduled to the Order in Council of 1923 cannot come into operation before 1st January. If the offer accepted I recommended further extension to the end of 1980 as arrangements preparatory to the comunencement of the new Constitution would take much time. If offer rejected it could he re-submitted after the General Election early next year. I would strongly deprecate any prior changes in the fran- chise. Not only is the franchise the most contentious point in the whole of the con- stitutional question but it would not be wise to grant any appreciable enlargement without some concurrent addition to safeguards and this would involve substantial constitutional changes.
* Nos. 12, 15, 16, 20, 28, 29, 40 and 43.
+ C. 63230/29 [No. 81; not printed.
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