Dec. t, 1894.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
365 
Head, the Council is a mere instrument for giving 
effect to his own views. Official members cannot be 
expected to oppose the will of a strong and deter- 
mined chief, even where thev are at liberty to do 
so. T'nofficial members, therefore, find themselves 
with their inferior numbers and heterogenous material, 
opposed to a solid and immovable phalanx. Resistance 
in the face of such inevitable defeat, becomes as 
spiritless as it is vain. The hopelessness of successfully 
opposing the views of Government, was strikingly 
proved by the passing of the Paiigwella Tolls Bill 
in spite of the unanimous votes of the unoificials, 
supported by one of the Government members. The 
refusal to concede, even so small a point, to the 
representatives of the public, had its effect in 
helping to make a seat on the unofficial benches a 
very unenviable position. 
Power so absolute i3 even more liable to abuse 
in the expenditure of the public money, than in 
nutters of general policy. Large sums are expended 
without votes, and the Council is superseded in its 
principal functions. The Government, it is true, fully 
admits and strongly deprecates the unconstitutional 
character of such expenditure, but makes out a 
strong case for a departure, in the particular instan- 
ces, froni the usual rules. This is repeated annually 
and the votes of Council become a mere form. It 
is willingly admitted on all hands that the money 
so expended is generally n:dl applied, hence the 
unofficial members, though feeling that their rights 
have been infringed, are little disposed to censure 
strongly the way in which the thing was done, when 
the thing itself was really good, and was prompted 
by a spirit of earnest zeal for the public service. 
For the sake of the Colony, I sincerely hope we 
may alwiy3 have Governors as wise, able and vigor- 
ous as he who now governs it, but I should wish 
to see a Council correspondingly efficient. For this 
end, I do not think, any great change necessary, 
but I deem it essential that the Governor should 
cease to preside at the Legislative Council. The 
dignity of his position, and the usefulness of his 
unprecedented labours, would be rather augmented 
than diminished by his retirement from a place where 
the influence of his presence, paralyses all freedom 
of action and expression. I would further recommend 
an increase of two to the number of the unofficial 
members, and the right to all members to initiate 
measures in Council. 
I commend this subject to the earnest consideration 
of the Planters' Association. It is of vital importance 
at the present critical juncture. The Legislature will 
shortly have to deal with subjects of deep interest 
to the Colony in general, and to the Planters in 
particular. It behoves them, therefore, to have re- 
presentatives who may be heard not in vain remons- 
trance merely, but with force and effect. 
The Railway question is in a critical position and 
must engage the early attention of the Association 
and the Colony. The surveys and estimates on which 
the measure was originally based, have been aban- 
doned, and their substitutes are yet incomplete. 
Even the route is yet undecided. It is impossible 
therefore, in the present position of affairs to know 
what the work may cost. It was agreed by all parties, 
and by the Governor as strongly as by the Colonists, 
that the Railway ought not to be made at all, if it 
could not be made within £1,200,000. There is now 
no doubt that it will cost far more than that sum. 
What then is to be done? The work is begun, and 
a considerable expense is already incurred. Shall it 
be completed regardless of cost? or, if not, at what 
point shall it be made to terminate? 
1 wisli you farewell, and in doing so, assure you 
that if I could be of any service to my fellow 
Planters during my stay in England, it will afford 
1113 tlio greatest pleasure. 
I have the honor to be, Sir, 
Your obedient servant, 
(Signed) Gkokue Wall. 
The Planters' Association acknowledged the 
above letter by the following resolution : — 
"That a vot3 of thank 4 bo passed to Mr. Wall for 
hid valuable services; for the unceasing energy ho 
has displayed and the independence of character he has 
evinced, in the discharge of his duties as representative 
of the Planting interest, in the Legislative Council." 
Sir Henry Ward was much taken aback by Mr. 
Wall's "Parthian shot," declaring that he never 
had an inkling of such sentiments being held and 
he blamed Mr. Wall for not avowing them from his 
seat in Council or sending his letter earlier before 
his departure, so that he could have been at 
once answered. 
After the receipt of Mr. Wall's letter, the Plant- 
ers' Association at the instance of Mr. Alexander 
Brown had discussed the following resolution : — ■ 
Brno! at ion: Proposed by A. Brown Esq., seconded 
by W. Cohen, E^q. 
That constituted as the Legislative Council at 
present is, the good th it can be done by unofficial 
members, unable as they are to originate motions, 
and too weak to carry measures, i^ not commen- 
surate with the re^ponjinility they incur nor com- 
patible with the positio 1 which the representative 
of powerful interests ought to occupy. For th.-'se 
reas ns this Associati.n, while ( ully acknowledging 
th- Governor's courtesy in offer'ng us the election 
of a Planting member in lieu of Mr. Wall, is unable 
to find a meaner wiling t) d-vote his time to the 
duties of the office. 
Amendment on Mr. B own'i r solution, proposed 
by W. F. For-yth. Esq , sec nded by J. Tyndall, Esq. 
That while fully acknowledging the courtesy of 
the Governor in giving us ths nomination of a 
member of Council, th-' Ass -ciation regret they 
h ve i.een unable to find a gentl roan willing to 
devo e so much of his time as would be requisite 
for the p3rformauce nf the duties. 
Am ndin-n on the above amendm» nt. Prop sed by 
A. H. Railli , Esq.. second d by M H. Thomas, Esq. 
I hat while fully acknowledgi g th 1 courtesy 
of t- e Governor ' in giving us the nomi a ion • f a 
member of Couuci , the Associa'ion reg et they 
have been unable to find a gentleman wiling to 
accept the office — Carried b^ a majority. 
Further correspondence then ensued, and we 
cannot help quoting the Governor's defence against 
Mr. Wall s attack as follows : — 
The Pavilion, Kandy, June 6, 1859. 
The Chairman Planters' Association. 
Sir,— I am directed by the Governor, to inform 
you that he h.is received a letter, signed by the 
Secretary of the Planters' Association, acknowledging 
the "couresy" rf the Governor, in placing at its 
disposal the nomina'.ion of a member 0 f the Legis- 
lative Council, in the pl-.ce of M^. Wa 1, but express^ 
i; g the r< gret of the Association at its inability to" 
find a g ntlemau wi. in^ "tj accept the office." 
2. The Gover or begs to be informed, whether he 
is to consider this resolution as definitive -and 
whether, at a mom. nt whe-i, from the unf re eea 
difficulties that have arisen with regard to the Rail 
way, it is peculiar y d siable that the Gove-ument 
shou d have the aid of a full repre-^ntation of the 
Planting interest in Connci , the Association declines 
altogether, to avail itself of a privilege, which it has 
exercised for the last four years, with much advantage 
to itself an 1 tj the public. 0 
3. His Excellency desires me to point out to you 
that it was not simply as a matt-r of ■■ courtesv " 
but from a sincere desire to improve the institutions 
of the Colony, so far as it depended npon h ni that 
the right of selecting members of Council, vested in 
Id Goveruor by the Crown, was given up bv him 
wherever he found an organised body c mpetent 
to under'ake the duty. His Excellency has no pjiver 
to ait. r the fundamental conditions of the s\ s- e m 
which ho is sent to administer. 1 
He cannot iurrease tin number of the m-mbera 
of Connci', or alter the . stabl-shed proportions bet 
when official and un-official members, or divido the 
