Government in the Falklands
Snt,—My attention has recently been drawn to a letter from the Rev. R. G. R. Calvert in your issue of August 12th, 1949, on the subject of self-government in the Falkland Islands. The constitution of this Colony was revised in 1949, and not the least important object of that revision was to provide (for the first time) for popular representation in the Legislative Council. The present position is that the Council is composed of an equal number of official and unofficial members with the Governor, as President, 'laving a casting vote but no original vote. In October, 1948, on the eva of the introduction of this new constitution, the Governor, addressing the old Legislative Council, said: " I will here remind you that the ultimate objective is a Legislative Council with an unofficial majority which, as you will perceive, can be readily secured when the time is ripe by the removal of one official vote: how soon that day will come depends necessarily upon the use which is made of the new constitution."
Under this new constitution the annual estimates are subject to consideration by a select committee of the Council, and supplementary provision has to be approved by a standing committee of the Council which meets monthly. On neither of these committees is there any official member apart from myself.—I am, Sir, your obedient servant, MICHAEL R. RAYMER, Colonial Secretary. Colonial Secretary's Office, Stanley, Falkland Islands.
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