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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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Reference :-

C.O. 885

8

ECORD OFFICE, LORDON

HOUT PERMISSION OF THE LIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO ODUCED PHOTOQUAPHIC-

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September, 1888, stating that the object to be "distinctly kept in view is that the civil

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servants as a body should not be pecuniarily "interested in the rise or fall in land values in "particular localities, or in the comparative prosperity of one part of the country as com- pared with another.'"

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This notice was practically much the same as that issued in Ceylon, though it seems to have been settled quite independently. Indeed the Ceylon regulations must have been overlooked, for they do not seem to have been referred to in the discussion which arose at the same time with Straits,

515;88-9. regard to the Straits and Hong Kong, though the draft regulations which had been sent home Hong from the former Colony had already been copied 1988 88-9. partly from the Ceylon model. The despatches to these Colonies followed closely the Bechuana- land despatch.

The Straits proposed to notify that no officer should be owner or part owner of any con- cession, of any land other than ground attached to a house, or of house property except for his own occupation: that this should apply to members of officers' families: that it should not apply to natives or bonâ fide settlers becoming possessed of land by inheritance or devise. This to apply both to Straits and Federated Malay States.

Kong,

These regulations were approved and a copy 1988/88-9. sent to Hong Kong, where the question had

been raised simultaneously. Sir F. Fleming, 7869,90, who was acting as Governor, thought that no action was required. This Office refused to accept this opinion, but it was not till 1892 that 4913;92. draft regulations were sent home. They were weaker than the Straits rules in that no reference was made to house property. On the other hand, no reference was made to natives or bona fide settlers. After some correspondence the rule was extended to cover house property.

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They were now the most stringent regulations in the Colonial Service, so that when in 1893 the scandals in connection with the Déhigama claim in Ceylon made it advisable to strengthen the old rule there (which naturally did not provide against the possibility of joint stock companies undertaking agricultural operations),

a copy of them was sent out for guidance; but Ceylon,

the Governor and Executive Council thought 7171/93.

them too strict, seeing no reason why a public servant should not own shares in a tea-company. This Department then, having consulted the 2537/94. India Office, whose rules were less stringent than the Hong Kong rules, proposed a rule to the effect that officers should be expected to abstain from investment in mineral, land, agri- cultural or other companies within the Colony, especially tes-planting companies and com panies to which concessions have been granted

18445,94.

10712,96.

13965/97.

Copy in 19712/97.

Governor.

21441/97.

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by Government ; and also that officers were expected not to buy house property except for bond fide occupation. This to apply to all officers, natives as well as Europeans.

The Colonial Government still considered the rules too harsh and wished to qualify the list of Companies by adding: "In all cases in which "their public duty is or may be in any way con- "nected with such Companies," the idea being apparently that in most cases tea or cocoa-nut Companies would come within the proviso. This Office demurred, and it was proposed to substitute a long list of objectionable invest- ments: "Local mineral, land, agricultural,

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trading, shipping, boat, wharf, warehousing,

harbour, railway, tramway, banking, financial "and loan Companies, or other investments of a "like nature, within the Colony, including espe- "cially tea-planting Companies and Companies "to which concessions have been granted by the "Government." This elaborate description was not, however, inserted.

Immediately on his arrival in the Colony, Sir West Ridgeway suggested revision; and his sug- gestions (described by Mr. Lucas as "In effect. the Hong Kong Regulations rather strength- ened") were adopted.

They differ from the Hong Kong Regulations chiefly by insertion of a provision referring to investments likely to interest an officer privately in an affair or undertaking with which his public duty is connected; and by partly exempting natives. They are now in force.

In 1897, land jobbing was found to be not un- common in the Lagos Civil Service. An enquiry was held which resulted in the issue of regula tions with regard to ownership of land and house property copied from the Hong Kong Regulations. Some of the papers are missing, so that it is not clear whether this model was suggested by this Office, but this probably was done. The reference to shareholding omitted.

was

The native officials protested very strongly, 19712/97. particularly against the retrospective effect of the rules. After reconsideration it was decided that it would be fair to make a distinction be- tween Europeans and natives in the matter and that the rules should not in any case be retro- apective. Natives must, however, except in the case of purchase of a house and grounds, obtain permission the case of landa devolving upon an officer (European or native) is left to the Governor's discretion.

I am not aware of any similar rules in other West African Colonies, but the Gold Coast Concessions Ordinance, 1900, contains a provision

GSA