, 1873-04-16

permanent duties with regard to the manage
ment of the economical affairs of the Municipa.
lily be left to a Committee elected from among
the Councils Members for the coming year.
The Committee entertains no doubt, that by
this, at all events partial separation Of the two
sides of the Council's duties, which have not
hitherto both of them been equally well served,
both the work Of the legislation will be dis
charged much easier, because the interest for
the matters under discussion will be kept up by
the more prompt and more intensive application
bestowed thereon, and, the economical or com
munal affairs will become the subject of much
greater attention and more careful treatment
when they come to be the constant occupation
the whole year round and no longer have to be
confined to what time in the Council's scattered
meetings could be spared from what may be
called the political work. 1t must, namely,
have been evident to every body, to what de-
gree this last mentioned work with exception
only of the yearly Budget discussions has been
preponderant, and it is barely necessary to read
5 81 of the Colonial Law s So in the Draft),
which presupposes a very considerable initiative
on the part of the Colonial Council in economi
cal affairs, to see how very little that initiative
has been made use of. But a small able Board
sitting all the year round, could scarcely do
OLQ6I WIOO tudu INV A1A LuCuJ II waning
to be called on, take financial affairs Of the
Island under consideration and make proposals
thereon.
The objection which in the course Of years
has at times been heard against a measure like
the proposed one, also by men who would be
favourably disposed for it, namely that sufficient
abilities to discharge the work Of such a Board
are wanting, the Committee does not consider
we'll founded. Some sacrifices of time aad labour
and in regard to personal comfort will certainly
be required Of the men having seats in the
Board but, on the other hand they will
have the prospect of ~effecting something
really useful, and there are here as else
where, and perhaps not less now than in
the Burgher Councils time, to be found intelli-
gent men to whom it is a satisfaction to give
their services to the Community in which they
live.
With reference to the sphere of action to be
given the Municipal Board and to the routine
of business to be observed, the statement in
that respect offered in the Motives to the Draft
comedies pretty mnch with Inc ideas of those
who have occupied themselves with the plan,
and it must be acknowledged that the measure
of its functions has not been dealt out sparing-
". Itmay come under question, if not a Draft
of the future Regulatiye ought already now 10
be submitted to the Council for its information
and guidance but this Committee can not see
otherwise than that the contents thereof are
sufficiently given by what is stated in the Mo
tives; so that there does not seem to be any
real call to demand the said Draft submitted.
AS also stated in the Motives, the Municipal
Board can only in the course of time grow to
its full development, and it would therefore,
perhaps, be best that the said Regulative should
not require the sanction of the Ministry but the
sanction of the Governor.
The Committee therefore proposes:
No. rs. THAT in the 5th section End
clause, instead of the words Ministry, be
placed "Governor".
1t will no doubt meet the appreciation of the
Council that the Municipal Board-as will be
seen to be the idea-shall ordinarily discharge
its duties without the attendance Of the Superior
Authority, whose presence might very easily
serve to retard or repreSs the initiative of the
Board.
That the yearly sessions of the Council be
held, as proposed in the Draft, during the
months of October to December, the Committee
must after a close consideration, also consider
to he most suitable. 1t is certainly during the
latter mart of the year that the most absences
from the Island generally take place, especial
" among planters but during the two first
months Of the year, in which the session would
otherwise have to be held, on account OF the
annual treatment of the Budget, the crop will
inst then be in full course, and it would there
fore only be by altering the term OF the hScal
wear. for instance so that it hencetorth be from
&c Oo+oLor to the both of SeDfember,