§ Mr. Tufnellwished to ask the hon. Gentleman (Mr. G. W. Hope), whether an Order had not been issued from the Colonial Department to the Governor of Ceylon, prohibiting officers in the Civil Service in that island from engaging in agricultural or commercial pursuits; and if so, what time was allowed them to dispose of their property? He also wished to know if the Governor, and the clergy of the Established Church, were included in that Order?
§ Mr. G. W. Hopesaid, the Order extended only to the officers in the Civil Service, and not to the clergy, or to the Governor. The instructions to which the hon. Gentleman referred, were part of a general scheme for remodelling, and, as he trusted, for improving the Civil Service in Ceylon. He had heard it stated, that, concurrent with the Order for the prohibition of the civil officers from engaging in agricultural and commercial pursuits, a proposal had been made by the noble Lord for an increase of salary in some cases, and for a further provision in the shape of retiring pensions. These pensions did exist up to a certain period; and since they had ceased, many complaints had been made of the absence of civil officers from their duties, in consequence of the private pursuits in which they were embarked. The noble Lord had not fixed the particular period before which the properties should be disposed of; but he had merely notified to the 1321 Governor that within a reasonable time the officers should make their election between retaining their public situations, or giving up their plantations and commercial speculations.