CO129-349 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1908 [10-12] — Page 103

}

closures.

99

10.

In these circumstances unless the

Imperial Treasury is prepared to come to the assistance of

the Colony and to meet the cost involved in giving

effect to the policy of closing Divans I fear that the

difficulties of carrying out that policy would be very

great. The view that Divans are in themselves agents for

the demoralization of however microscopie a proportion of

the population is not held by the bulk of the Community

here who by long residence in the East are better qualified

to judge than those at home who with the best of motives

advocate this particular method of restriction. It is not

as I have indicated shared by myself. That the special

legislation necessary to introduce any new taxation to

give effect to it would therefore be strongly opposed is

evident from the enclosed copy of a debate in Legislative

Council on the 24th, ultimo on a resolution moved by the

Member for the Chamber of Commerce, and unanimously support-

-ed by the Unofficial Members of Council to the effect

that:-

*In the opinion of this Council

"the reasons given in the House of Commons on 28th. July

*by the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, in

"explanation of the peremptory nature of the order

issued