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The Colonial Defence Committee understand that in the meantime in the case of certain Colonies, including Mauritius, for which there is power to legislate by Order in Council, steps are being taken to confer the necessary powers on the Governors by Orders in Council, to be put in force by Procla- mation when required. There are other Colonies, e.g., Jamaica, Bermuda, and Barbados, which cannot be dealt with except by local legislation, which would be impracticable, or by Act of Parliament.

(Signed)

M. NATHAN, Secretary,

Colonial Defence Committee.

August 9, 1895.

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PRINTED AT THE FOREIGN OFFICE BY T. HARRISON.-12 8/95.

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Colonel Lefttetton

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Printed for the use of the Colonial Office. October 4, 1895.

SECRET.

116 R.

STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.

No. 10,993.

SINGAPORE.

Report of Local Joint Naval and Military Committee of May 1895.

Remarks by the Colonial Defence Committee.

Covering Despatch of the Governor:

THE Governor protests against the expenditure involved by the pro- posals of the Local Committee should they necessitate a further demand on the resources of the Colony.

2. The Colonial Defence Committee understand that it has now been decided that a fixed percentage of the Colonial revenue is to be paid yearly to cover all costs of defence, exclusive of capital expenditure on lands and buildings and of charges for lodgings in lieu of barracks. Consequently, changes in the defence will only involve a direct call on the finances of the Colony in so far as they necessitate expenditure of these natures.

3. The Committee would further point out that the varying views of successive Local Committees do not necessarily entail the constant expendi- ture that the Governor appears to deprecate. Though the opinions of officers on the spot are obviously of the greatest value in enabling a judgment to be formed as to the defensive requirements of a Colony, it must be known to the Governor that these opinions are only acted upon after minute consideration by the Home authorities as to how far the proposals correspond to the general principles that have been adopted to best guard both Imperial and local interests.

With regard to the present case, the Colonial Defence Committee recom- mended the reassembling of the Local Joint Naval and Military Committee to reconsider the defence of the harbour of Singapore in the light of their remarks dated 9th May, 1894. These remarks did not deal with the heavy armament of Singapore, which was then under consideration of the War Office, and the Local Committee have somewhat exceeded their functions in now bringing forward fresh proposals for altering the heavy gun defence.

4. The Governor asks for instructions as to whether the Local Joint Naval and Military Committee should not be dissolved, future questions of defence being entrusted to the Local Defence Committee. The Colonial Defence Committee have recently addressed the Joint Naval and Military Committee on Defence on this matter.

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