393


SAI NT VINCENT


GOVERNMENT


GAZE ITE


Published byi Authority.


VOL. 84.] SAINT VINCENT, TUESDAY, 18 DECEMBER, 1951. [No. 66.


GOVERNMENT NOTICES.

No. 606.
 EXTRACTS FROM GOVERNOR'S
 ADDRESS TO DOMINICA LEGISLA-
 TIVE COUNCIL ON 23RD NOVEMBER,
 1951.

 1 have heard the view expressed that
the Windward Islands were not ready
for adult suffrage. I do not subscribe
to that view and I have no doubt that
the same thing would be said after ten
or twenty years or whenever it was
decided to make the change. Where the
elections have failed to secure the re-
presentation of all important sections of
the community, the retention of a nomi-
nated element has enabled the Governor
to broaden the basis of Council. . .
 Before leaving the subject of adult
suffrage, I should like to congratulate
the supervisors of elections on their
excellent organisation. The elections
proceeded 'without a hitch, and when
one reads about the disorders and
violence that accompany elections in


Committee is analogous to a Select
Committee of the House of Commons
and strangers are excluded from its
deliberations as a matter of course. The
absence of formality promotes the rapid
despatch of business, and the absence of
strangers assists a dispassionate and
statesmanlike approach to current prob-
lems. In this connection, it is impor-
tant to remember that under represent-
ative Government the people cannot
participate directly in the business of
Government. That becomes a matter
for their duly elected representatives,
each of whom, after election, must
regard himself as representing all the
people in his constituency and not only
those who voted for him.
 The proceedings of Finance Committee
are of course published, and ought to be
published, immediately after their
approval by members. This has been
arranged in the other Windward Islands
and I trust that it will be done here in
future.
 I should perhaps add that every item
of expenditure approved in Finance
Committee has to be snecificallv submit-


some other countries, we can at least ted for the formal approval of the
take pride in the fact that there was not Legislative Council. at a later stage.
a single incident on polling day in any Furthermore, the decision of the Legis-
of the Windward Islands." native Council, and not merely of Finance
 The main functions of the Legislative Committee, is required on major quest-
Council include the discussion of policy, ions of policy. Regular monthly meet-
the passing of laws and the voting of ings of the Legislative Council will
monies to finance the administration, ensure such reference in future."
Much of the hard work in Council is
done in the Standing Committee on 18th December, 1951.
Finance. I take the view that Finance (A. 14/1948).


j.2?. 72 '~

S ~
 S