WARNING TO GOVERNORS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIII, Issue 118, 20 May 1907, Page 3

WARNING TO GOVERNORS.

OFFICIALS AND TRADING COMPANIES. (FEOM OCB OWN COBRJJSrOJ.'m-.ST.) LONDON, sth April. The following luggestivo circular letter h:3 been 3ent by the Secretary of State to the Go\crnors of all colonies : — "Downing-^treet, 15th Feb., 1907. '"Sir, — I have the hoftour to inform you that during the past spcsiDn questions have been put in the Houso of Commons with regard to certain cases in which ex-Governors of Colonies have" taken a prominent part in the organisation or direction of companies formed to operate' in territories which they wero recently administering. The publicity which has thus been given to tJwso cases and tho public comments winch hi\ c been made upon them mako it desirable that I should, without suggeccing any impropriety in tho action oi thoso concerned, ospi ess my personal opinion with regard to such commercial \ enturcs. '"I have cVpry reason to believe that tho strongest motive which actuates a former Governor in engaging in a commercial cntorprir.3 in a colony with which ho has been connected is that he feels assured from his intimate knowledge of tho wholo circumstances that there arc opportunities fcr .dovclop»ent which will benefit tho colony, and that it is incumbent on him not to refuse to j»ivo the enterprise tho support which his name and reputation must carry wjth it. "A secondary motive, perfectly legitimate and honourable, -n\ay bo that the enterprise may proyo successful, cad co-operation in it renAiAorativo. "At the same time I cannot help feeling that, retired Governors would be well advised in most cas£3 to refrain from taking a prominent part in tho • management 'of companies which are formed to develop for profit the natural roson.-ccs of tho territories which they have administered. I chill always bo ready and anxious to defend the conduct of those who havo riven yearn of rrduous ar.d dc-sotcd work to tho Empire, bui tho strongest and best-merit-ed defence cr.nnoi always remove a false impression mado by reflections cast on them, and I think myself therefore entitled in the interests of tho Stato and of tho Colonial Service to dr.iv/ the attention of officers administering the govcrnir.er.t of colonies or protectorates to tho necessity for earnest consideration before taking part in any 'ccmmorcial undertaking of jjuch a charactor. — I nin, etc., Elgin." Among Kcw Zealand ex Governors who arc or have beon directors or njembsrs of commercial companies, the na'ncs of Lord Glasgow, Lord fJtanmore, the lato Sir James Fcrgusson, and the late Sir Georfjc Cowcn, will d once suggest themselves.