From The Editorials
Mauritius Times – 60 Years
By B. Ramlallah
This is the last issue of Mauritius Times for this year which will end in a week. We reappear on the 8th of January. As in the previous years we look back on the dying year’s work and we try to draw up a sheet, so to speak, of our achievements and failures.
1959 started with a bang! The whole country was engrossed in preparations for the general elections that were subsequently held in March. Everywhere everyone talked and hoped one way or another for the results of the elections. Although we were militating for the Labour Party, we thought it fit to point out to the Party certain tendencies which were crystallising in the minds of the people. In an editorial, The Choice Before Labour, we summarised the problems which the Labour Party had to face and the reforms it should bring about. We wrote:
“The two basic needs we are discussing concern mainly the labouring class. But there are other needs which affect other sections of the community or which by their very scope are bound to affect the over-all progress of the country. They are enumerated below and the Labour Party will have to pay attention to them.
They are:
(a) Increase of the production of locally-grown foodstuffs and dairy produce.
(b) A better and more productive use of Crown and Pas Geométriques Lands.
(c) Land tenancy legislation.
(d) The CEB should be brought back under direct state control.
(e) The Sugar Industry Research Institute should be taken over by government.
(f) Better use should be made of the fabulous sums accruing to the Sugar Industry Labour Welfare Committee (e.g., holiday camps for sugar workers and land settlement schemes), and we added: that the Labour Party’s battle cry should henceforth be: Enough of coalition government! Let’s have full responsibility!”
As the 9th of March approached the political situation became more tense and exposed Dr Millien’s shortsighted policy of deserting the Labour Party. We have been proved right because we said that Dr Millien had been “caught into the meshes of his own making.” When Mr Rault was disqualified for the Stanley constituency, we recommended Mr S. Indur and we took the Independent Forward Bloc, the latest brainchild of Mr S. Bissoondoyal, to task. When the general election came we gave our unstinted support to the Labour Party. And in our issue of the 27th March we published the picture of all the Labour MLC’s.
We hailed the New Council, and we welcomed the creation of new Ministries in these words: “Some of the old ministries have been retained and others have been recast with the result that we have today three new ministries. They are: Ministry of Housing, Town and Country Planning, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and External Communications and the Ministry of Local Government and Co-operative Development.
“Whatever scandal-mongers may think of ministries and ministers’ salaries the three new ministries are of vital importance and they are likely to play a decisive role in the development of the country. The Government should be congratulated on this happy decision.”
Analysing the speeches of some new members of the new Council we found that the land problem was in the forefront of public mind. In an editorial, The Cry For Land, we said: “Most of the agricultural lands of this colony are in the hands of a few hundred persons or Companies. Of the 20,721 planters without factories only 35 planters own lands more than 500 acres. On the other hand, there are 6,380 planters who own less than one arpent; 5,884 own from 1 to 2 arpents: 3,043 own from 3 to 5 arpents. On the other hand the 25 factories which are managed by about a dozen companies own among themselves 99,552 acres.”
We did not like the new philosophy Mr Barrett introduced into the trade union movement and we had to cross swords with him and when Mr John Hatch of the British Labour Party paid us a visit in June we welcomed him in these words: “We welcome him warmly because in him we find a distinguished representative of the great British traditions. And we welcome him because of the tremendous help he and the British Labour Party extended to our delegates when they were in London to discuss our constitution. It can be said, without fear of contradiction, that the British Labour Party and its zealous and illustrious members of the calibre of John Hatch have tremendously influenced the course of our destiny.”
We welcomed the establishment of the Police Service Commission and exposed the bankrupt campaign of Mr Barett and his local colleagues. The time for Sir Robert Scott’s departure came and we paid him a deserving tribute. We said: “That Sir Robert’s period of governorship over here is a crucial period in our history there is no doubt. Has it been beneficial to our cause or has it gone against us? Without fear of contradiction, we aver that he has laid down in this country the solid foundations upon which sound parliamentary democracy will be built. To the sceptics we can only say that history will do justice to Sir Robert’s stay in Mauritius.”
Welcoming Prof Kalelkar who paid us a visit in November, we said: “He therefore comes to us as an ambassador of goodwill, and we welcome him as such. Although our ancestors originally came here to seek fortune, we are today citizens of this country. Although we are to bury our bones in Mauritian soil, we wish to keep our culture and traditions which our forefathers have handed down to us. We want to be loyal Mauritians, but we want to preserve our “Indianness.” We have no doubt that he will spend a happy sojourn in our midst.” And when the terms of the Economic Survey Mission was made public we unhesitatingly said that it was going to bring about a great economic revolution in the country. And finally, we had to tell Mr André Masson of Le Mauricien that courtesy could not be measured with a bowl of rice.
6th Year – No 280
Friday 25th December, 1959
Appointments and Promotions
In The Civil Service
The following list of promotions in and appointments to the Public Service during the week ended 17th Dec. 1959, is released from the Colonial Secretary’s Office
APPOINTMENTS
Mr G. Cuttaree appointed Scientific Assistant, Agricultural Department
Misses M. Ng. Cheong Vee, J. Coquet, N. Joson, S. Cassimally, L. Cartier B. M. Melin, M. J. Delawa, Messrs C. Boolaky, K. Venkatachellum, S. Cassam, H. Serret, T. P. C., Tse Yuen Cheong. R. L. Kelly. H. Mohamudally, K. Khittoo, A. Diouman, D. Manna. L. C. S. Lo Ming Chung, S. Cournadin, D. Toolsee, C. P Thibaud appointed Clerical Officers.
Messrs M. Bourdet. B, Bussawah, L.R. Maraye appointed Clerical Officers.
Messrs S. A. Ramjanally and S. I. A Tarsoo appointed Clerical Officers.
Miss L.A. M. Maric-Jeanne, Messrs A. B. Nathay and J. J. Isabelle appointed Clerical Officers.
Miss N. A. John appointed Nursing Officer Grade Il.
Mr B. Babajee appointed Temporary Senior Officer Cadet.
Mr D. Sawmy appointed Temporary Typist.
Mr A. F. Dullymamode appointed Temporary Messenger.
ACTING APPOINTMENT
S. S. Moos, Esq. M.B.E. Assist-Secretary, to act as Principal Assistant Secretary.
Mauritius Times ePaper Friday 19 July 2024
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