CO129-348 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1908 [7-10] — Page 10

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Registrar-General, to make special enquiry into the

accounts of the ten Divan-keepers in question and I attach

a copy of his report, dated the 29th. ultimo. I also enclose

a copy of a minute by the Attorney-General dated the 26th.

losure! closure 2.

ultimo.

4.

Your Lordship enquires whether

there are grounds for believing that valid claims for

compensation could be made with respect to these licences.

This question is dealt with by the Attorney-General who is

of opinion that "putting aside the strictly legal aspect

"of the question, to peremptorily refuse the renewal of a

#licence for the remainder of the current year would seem-

"ingly inflict a hardship on the keepers concerned and I

"think might be regarded as a breach of faith".

5.

In explanation of the Attorney-

-General's minute, I may add that although the Government

has not directly intimated through any of its Officials

that permission was given to await the return of the

applicants to the Colony, yet there has always been a tacit

understanding between the Opium Farmer and the Divan-

-keepers on the one hand and the Government Officials con-

-cerned, viz.:- the Registrar-General, Captain Superintend-

-ent of Police and Sanitary Board, on the other hand, that

these