1
50
6. At the end of 1891 there was a deficit of revenue of 772,375 dollars, and, again, in 1892 of 627,297 dollars. The reserves, amounting to 1,364,000 dollars, built up for meeting "emergencies which might arise in the future owing to bad seasons, depression of trade, or other calamity" had been swept into the Military Chest, and it became evident that the financial position of the Colony was most serious. Fresh representations were made to the Home Government, and in particular on 15th May, 1893, by a deputation of the Straits Settlements Association to the Secretary of State for the Colonies. Lord Ripon promised that he would lay the case fairly and fully before his colleagues, and added that three departments were interested in the question, the Colonial Office, the War Office, and the Treasury.
7. The Colony waited patiently for the decision of Her Majesty's Government which was not made known in Singapore till January of the present year, by the publication of a despatch from Lord Ripon to the Governor of the Straits Settlements, dated 6th November, 1894. His Lordship intimated that it had been decided that the Colony would be charged as follows:-
-
For 1894
•
1895
37
1
1896
"
1897 1898
£ 70,000
80,000
100,000)
110,000 provisionally. 120,000
The intimation that the charges in 1896-97-98 are provisional and may be reconsidered, appears valueless in face of the hope expressed that, "by a steady application of the principles of economy, recently formulated by the Retrenchment Committee, the necessary civil charges may be kept down to something like 3,000,000 dollars a-year. It seems, therefore, not too much to hope that the Colony may be able to provide for the Military Contribution and all civil charges without incurring a deficit in the quinquennial period, and that there will even be a balance on the period as a whole, which balance, together with what remains of existing Colonial balances, the Colony may be able to devote to some extent to the construction of new barracks,"
While admitting that, "in accordance with the undertaking given by Mr. Goschen in 1891, Her Majesty's Government were bound to reconsider the question," Lord Ripon states that this undertaking "must not be taken as applying further than to the immediate future."
The following contrast may be noted between the state of the Colony's finances when Mr. Goschen gave his undertaking and the present position, with the charges actual and prospective:—
Revenue.
Military
charges.
dollars.
dollars.
1890
4,269,000
650,000
1895
4,000,000
800,000
1896
1,000,000
Expected small
1897
increase 1805.
on<
1,110,000
1898
1,200,000
51
9. This was followed by the resignation of the three best known non-official members of the Council, and by the refusal of a fourth to be re-nominated, by the resignation at Singapore of all the unofficial Justices of the Peace, and by the members of the Chinese Advisory Board, as a protest against the decision of the Home Govern- ment. In their letter of resignation of date, 4th January last, the members of the Legislative Council state that:-"The revenue in meeting these (military) charges is unable to provide needed public works, more especially in the Northern Settlement, for increased facilities to trade, or in the social and educational progress of the native classes, who are entirely dependent upon the initiative of the Government. In view, of all these circumstances, we are unable to perceive that any 'sensible relief' has been afforded to the finances of the Colony, or to acknowledge that Her Majesty's Govern- ment have treated the question with fairness and equity.
Year after year the Legislative Council is compelled to pass estimates, which we know are insufficient to meet the wants of the Colony, and to vote sums of money for military purposes which are greatly in excess of what the Colony can afford to pay. The determination of Her Majesty's Government, as revealed by the despatch, to pay no heed to our protests, nor to lay down any principle of finality, obliges us to disclaim any further respon- sibility for the finances over which the Council is not permitted control, and which are threatened with further inordinate exactions."
10. On the 11th January last a crowded public meeting of the inhabitants of Singapore was held, when the resignations above named were heartily approved of, and the action of the Home Government condemned.
Mr. Thomas Shelford, C.M.G., a member of Council of many years standing, and a man much respected by the community, stated in the course of his speech that, "All we ask for is simple justice. We are quite willing to pay for the cost of our own trade; we are willing in conjunction with other Colonies to pay a just apportionment of our Imperial obligations, but we protest, as a gross injustice, against being called upon to pay for the protection of what is practically wholly and entirely the British commerce and trade which passes through these waters to other ports."
11. The following list of Colonies with their garrisons, and of the sums contributed by each respectively, may advantageously be here given:
Men,
Contribution.
Straits Settlements
1,558
£ 100,000
Hong Kong
2,996
40,000
Ceylon
1,659
81,750
Mauritius
875
18,750
South Africa and Natal,.
3,831
4,000
West Africa
1,163
Nil.
Jamaica and West Indies generally
4,288
Nil.
The rate of exchange is here taken for the present and following years at its present level of about two shillings per dollar, and it is to be noted that in con- trasting the revenue of 1890 and 1895, the latter has been increased by fresh taxation caused by the military claims.
The despatch concludes by stating that Her Majesty's Government reserve all rights claimed by them in former despatches on behalf of the Home Government, should a fuller assertion of them appear reasonable on or after 1899.
In other words, the relief to the Colony consists in a deferred payment of 10,0007. and 20,000 till 1897-98, and an intimation that all the disputed principles and claims are upheld.
8. The publication of Lord Ripon's despatch in the Colony at once gave rise to fresh agitation. It was felt that no practical relief had been given--that the under- taking of Mr. Goschen had been whittled down to a shabby arrangement for a post- poned payment for two or three years of the full amount, and that Her Majesty's Government, while indulging in guarded hints that something might be done in some conceivable set of circumstances, had declared their intention of more fully asserting all their claims, should they deem this course desirable at some future time.
And in the case of the Straits Settlements there must be added the cost of new barracks, and all lauds required for military purposes. There is the further prospective claim, to be repaid the whole cost of the military establishment, at present amounting to 144,000l. per annum, and which may be increased should the Imperial Government consider any increase of the garrison desirable.
12. The glaring inequality of the claims made on the Straits Settlements is held by the Imperial Government to be justified by an engagement made for the Colony in 1866, when it was taken over from the Government of India by the Colonial Office, under which it was agreed that Her Majesty's Government should not be called upon to defray any part of the cost of the civil or military government of the new Colony,
This
agreement, however, had reference only to the torce necessary for local pro- tection. The opening of the Suez Canal changed the whole character of our ocean traffic, and Singapore was from this date, not only an important commercial centre, but became an important naval centre for Her Majesty's ships, and for the coal supply of the great through traffic from England to the far East. The fortifications and the increased garrison were the result of a general policy for the defence of the foreign coaling stations on Imperial grounds, and for Imperial needs.
It is also to be noted that the fortifications at Singapore are concentrated on the coal depôt at New Harbour, and that no defences whatever exist at Penang or Malacca. The small detachment of troops now in Penang would be withdrawn in case of war.
But the claim that the Colony is bound by the agreement of 1866, is effectually disposed of in a despatch from the Colonial Office to the War Office, dated 4th May,
(237)
0
529
}
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.