CEYLON AFFAIRS

Hokitika Guardian, 19 July 1928, Page 1

CEYLON AFFAIRS

legislative REFORMS. 1

COMMISSION’S REPORT

(British Official Wireless)

RUGBY, July 16.

Tho special Commission appointed to visit Ceylon and to examine the working of its Constitution, and any difficulties of administration which have arisen in connexion with these, has now reported.

In a historical review it pointed out that Ceylon became a Crown Colony in 1802 With minor alterations this Constitution lasted till 1910, but since then a series of changes had been made, with the result that political Ceylon had already advanced beyond the stage of a Crown Colony. However, the Constitution had not been successful. The principal defect lies in tho fact that in the Legislature unofficial members, who, with a control over the finance, but debarred from office, are without responsibility I for the conduct of the business, enjoy an overwhelming majority over the official members, who, though without controlling votes, are responsible for the government of the country. This divorce of power from responsibility has given rise to serious results, in that the policy came finally to he determined by the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council. In the opinion of the Commission the system has outlived its usefulness, and is now a source of delay and inefficiency, which adds to the difficulties of heads of Departments and calls for drastic action. A full and responsible Government they consider impracticable at tho present time. They recommend that the Legislative Council be replaced by a State Council, to deal with executive as well as legislative business. For the former purposo it will sit in an executive session, for the latter in a legislative ■session. THE STATE COUNCIL.

The Departments of the Government, instead of being concentrated under tbc Colonial Secretary, will now be divided into ten groups in charge of Ministers, of whom seven would be elected members of the State Council. Associated with each of these Ministers would he a standing executive committee o 1 the State Council, the threo remaining groups would ho in char go of the Colonial, now Chief, Secretary, tho Treasurer, and the Attorney-General, who will be known in tho future as officers of tho State. Ministers would individually answer to tho Council for the direction and control of their Departments. The Executive Council would be abolished and a Minister would bo constituted as a Board with the ultimate collective responsibility for the annual Budget and Estimates. Supplementary Esti-

mates, and consequential financial measures. As a legislative body the Council would control full powers, and the procedure associated with such bodies’ functions. Officers of State will be mainly advisory, but they will remain in executive control of their particular Departments, whoso activities will he largely implementary on decisions of the Council. The Commissioners similarly assign a. supervisory, rather than an executive, role to tho Governor, but they recommend that as his executive powers are diminished his reserve power should be strengthened in view of the large powers which are now to he transferred to the elected representatives of tho people. ER AN CHI SE EXTENSION. The Commissioners observe that a substantial extension of franchise is necessary, and recommend the adoption of manhood suffrage, with votes for women over thirty years old. The Commissioners recommended that the system of communal representation should ho abolished, and in order to • allay the qualms of minority communities they suggest that the Governor should be able to nominate members to the Council up to a maximum of twelve, of whom six may ho British. should he find it necessary, in order, to make the Council representative. They recommend further, that the Governor should he charged to refuse or reserve assent to measures calculated to discriminate against minor!ty communities. The Commissioners make several recommendations designed to restore confidence in the civil and public services, and propose several important changes in local government.