CO885-11 — Page 557

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

سلسالسا

وا

Reference :-

C.O.882/11

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

164

Number of Electorates.

When this Association acquiesced in the abolition of communal representation, it added the proviso that the number of territorial seats should be increased to 65 and the nominated seats to 12. Lord Passfield, on the ground of economy, proposes to reduce the territorial seats to 50 and the nominated to 8, but this Association feels that such a substantial reduction would seriously affect the representative character of the State Council. The Commissioners, in their Report, mentioned that a readjust- ment and a redistribution of territorial seats would assist the representation of minority communities. In recommending 65 elected and 12 nominated seats in the State Council, they stated that if a redistribution of seats were made so as to make the population of each constituency approximate to 70,000-90,000, a certain opportunity would be afforded for territorial election of minority members even though they had to depend

"It is obvious," they said,

"that the mainly on the support of their communities. greater the number of candidates the greater will be the prospect of the return of a member of a minority community." This Association would, therefore, submit that the number of members in the State Council should be restored to that originally suggested by the Donoughmore Commissioners, namely, 65 elected and 12 nominated.

Conclusion.

In conclusion, the Unionist Association of Ceylon is strongly of opinion that the proposed Reform of the Constitution should be accepted as it marks a definite step forward towards the attainment of full responsible government by the Ceylonese. The reference to the present Legislative Council, elected by a four per cent, electorate, cannot be taken as a true indication of the view of the whole population about the Reforms. There can be no doubt that the country is in favour of the acceptance of the Donoughmore Scheme of Reforms.

M. SARAVANAMUTTU,

NEW CONSTITUTION.

Secretary.

Order in Council, etc., providing for New Constitution.

C. 73230/30 [No. 8].

No. 116.

THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 6.52 p.m., 27th January, 1930.)

TELEGRAM.

[Answered by No. 117].

27TH JANUARY. Preliminary study of all steps necessary to prepare for intro- duction of new Constitution makes it clear that preparation of Election under new franchise will be lengthy business, and that there should be no difficulty in concluding all other steps before earliest date on which we can possibly hope to hold Election. It is therefore necessary to do all we can to expedite not only actual registration of voters and compilation of voters' lists, but also any action which necessarily precedes commencement of registration. Provided Legislative Council will agree to purchase of new machinery which will enable Government Press to cope satisfactorily with printing voters' list, &c. I calculate roughly that 9 months will suffice for all action necessary between commencement of registration and actual date of Election. Promulgation of Order in Council is of course necessary before registration can commence. I hope that lists of new constituencies will be ready early in April. If Order in Council can be promulgated by the end of April Election could I hope take place in February, 1931. Every day's delay beyond the end of April will inevitably mean corresponding delay in introduction of reform, and I fear that temper of present Council will render such delay a serious embarrassment to the Government.

I hope therefore that preparation of Order in Council may be pressed on, and that I may receive carly intimation as to when first draft may be expected to reach me. I suggest for your consideration (a) that schedule corresponding to the first two schedules of the present Order might he drafted out here, and (b) that if difficulty is anticipated in promulgating whole Order by 30th April franchise portion might be promulgated separately.

C. 73230/30 [No. 9].

165

No 117.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNOR

(Sent 3.30 p.m., 5th February, 1930.) TELEGRAM.

[Answered by No. 120.]

YOUR telegram of 27th January.* Revised draft of Order in Council now with printers, and will I hope be sent to you by next week's mail for consideration. Subject to early receipt of your observations, and provided that no important questions of principle arise for settlement, it should be possible to submit Order in Council for His Majesty's approval in April. If necessary I should see no difficulty in enactment in advance of separate Order in Council dealing solely with franchise, but this should be avoided if possible. Provisions of Schedules 1 and 2 of existing Order embodied in draft on lines of draft Order submitted in Sir Hugh Clifford's despatch of 22nd February, 1927.†-PASSFIELD.

C. 73230/30 [No. 7].

No. 118.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNOR.

(Confidential.)

SIR,

Downing Street, 12th February, 1930. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your telegram of the 31st January, 1930,‡ regarding the franchise in Ceylon, and to inform you that I approve of your proposal as to the classes of persons who should be entitled to vote at elections.

2. In my Confidential despatch of the 6th February, 1930,§ I enclosed copies of a draft of the Ceylon (Constitution) Order in Council, 1930. Your telegram under acknowledgment was not received in time to permit of any alteration to be made in the draft Order in Council as printed, and I have now to transmit a copy of an amended clause dealing with the franchise to be substituted for Clause 20 of the draft.

Enclosure in No. 118.

I have, &c.,

PASSFIELD.

AMENDED CLAUSE to be Substituted for Clause 20 OF THE DRAFT ORDER IN COUNCIL.

General Qualifications of Voters

in

20. (1) Any person not otherwise disqualified who is domiciled in Ceylon or is in possession of a certificate of permanent settlement as hereinafter defined shall be qualified to have his name entered in the register of voters. A certificate of permanent settlement shall be issued by an officer duly appointed by the Governor to any person who satisfies the officer that he has resided not less than five years Ceylon and who makes before the officer an attested declaration in the prescribed form to the effect that he was permanently settled in the Island or was residing within the Island with intent to settle therein, and that while registered as a voter he would renounce any claim to special protection by any Government other than that of Ceylon, or to any special rights, privileges or exemptions, to which residents in Ceylon of all races or communities are not entitled. Provided that, except in the case of persons possessing Ceylon domicile of origin, domicile shall not be deemed to have been acquired for the purpose of qualifying for the franchise by residence of less than five years in Ceylon. Provided, further, that a person not domiciled in Ceylon and

§. 63230/29 [No. 21]: not printed.

* No. 116. † No. 3 in Eastern No. 146. ‡ No. 84.