CO129-317 - Governor Sir Blake - 1903 [4-6] — Page 258

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COPY.

I

Hon. Colonial Secretary,

C.O.

22018

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22 JUN 201

253

I see nothing in the amended regulation

there-

that changes the present position. Being directly interested in an undertaking that might bring private interests into

conflict with public duties.is forbidden, but it must be a

practical probability and .not a theoretical possibility

fore the proviso that when in doubt reference should be made to

the Governor. For instance there are Companies in which such a

.condition would palpably apply to the Director of Public Works

that would not apply to the Postmaster-General and so on. With

reference to your suggestion.at ."A" suppose that a Company re-

quired to acquire any land, it could only do so.in the usual

.course by public sale at auction. How could any Public Officer

influence directly or indirectly such a sale ? I quite agree

with you that to prevent public Officers from investing their

savings in the only place where they can exercise their dis-

cretion would in certain cases work cruel injustice. But I fully

agree with the Secretary of State that such investments should

.not be made in undertakings with reference to which their

official discretion is to be exercised.

(Sa.) Henry A. Blake.

13th. May, 1903.

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