CO129-269 - Governor Sir Robinson & Public Offices - 1895 [12] — Page 510

STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.

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Report of the Committee on Colonial Military Contributions on the representations made by the Straits Settlements against the contribution fixed for that Colony for the period 1894-98, and on the proposal to substitute a percentage of revenue for the existing fixed sterling payments.

1. The objections raised by the Colony are--

(1.) That the basis on which the prospective contributions are founded, viz., the agreement entered into with the Colony in 1866, is obsolete and inapplicable to existing conditions.

(2.) That the pledge given by Mr. Goschen, in 1891, in the House of

Commons, has not been fulfilled.

(3.) That the system of a fixed sterling payment, which involves an uncertain and fluctuating charge in Colonial currency, is objectionable and prejudicial to the interests of the Colony.

No. 1.

The basis on which the Contributions are founded.

56.

2. The arguments advanced are the same as those which have repeatedly Appendices been advanced by the Colony since its transfer from Indian rule. The Nos. 2 to general contention is that the Colony before its transfer was a place of Fide no importance, that its Imperial importance has since been enormously 1888 report, increased, that the fortifications at Singapore are designed chiefly for

paras. 147 the defence of Imperial rather than of Colonial interests, and that the to 163 and undertaking that the Colony should bear the full cost of its garrison is Nos. 11, 17, therefore no longer applicable and should not be enforced. These matters of printed have been fully discussed in the Committee's reports of 1888 and 1894, in the corres- correspondence which passed in this country between the departments con- poudence cerned, and in that between the Secretary of State for the Colonies and the relating to Governor of the Straits Settlements.

3. The Committee will, as briefly as possible, recapitulate the main features

of the negotiations extending from 1858 to 1871.

4. The object the Colony had in view in the numerous representations it made to the Government between 1858 and 1866, urging its transfer to Imperial rule, was to escape from the heavy military charges imposed upon it by the Government of India.

44 and 47

the Straits Settlements.

5. In 1858 the military charges of the Colony absorbed about 58 per cent, of Report of its revenue, and in addition there was a naval expenditure of about 12,0007, 1888, paras. a-year, or 9 per cent. more, making in all over 67 per cent. of revenue expended on defence charges.

6. In 1861 the Treasury decided that--

3 and 4.

"My Lords are at present unable to arrive at the opinion that there are reasons of State sufficient to induce Her Majesty's Government to incur an addition to the public expenditure in order to give effect to such transfer."

Ibid, para. 5.

7. In that year the military expenditure of the Colony absorbed 53 per cent. Ibid, para.

of its revenue exclusive of naval charges.

6.

8. The question was again raised in 1863. The revenues had then increased Ibid, paras. and the military expenditure had slightly decreased, absorbing only 33 per cent. of revenue, exclusive of naval charges.

7 and 8.

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