CO129-349 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1908 [10-12] — Page 109

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calculated at the rates settled in Executive Council,

would (a) if all Divans are closed, be $20,656 (b) if the

52 Divans on the list selected by Government are closed,

be $4,533 and (c) if the 52 Divans on the list selected

by the Opium Farmer are closed, be $4,706.

17.

It therefore eventuates that from

the date on which all Divans are closed the Colony must pay

an immediate capital sum of $20,656 and sustain a further

loss of $45,000 per mensem, viz.:- a total loss in a

complete financial year of $560,656. If only 52 Divans

are closed the immediate minimum payment would be a sum of

$4,533 and a monthly sum of at least $7,000. If 52 Divans

were closed on lst. instant and the remainder on February

28th., 1909, when the licences expire the sum to be pro-

-vided in the present financial year would be (at least)

$25,533, and in next year $480,123. I have already ex-

-plained that in the present state of the Colonial

2

Finances it appears practically impossible to meet these

charges, unless His Majesty's Government should see fit to

make a grant for that purpose. Even in that case and were

no financial liability to be incurred by this Colony I am

compelled for the reasons I have given to the conclusion

that the complete closure of all Divans would be an unwise

step.