CHAPTER XII
ADMINISTRATION
The administration of Burma as a Province of the Indian Empire is in a state of transition. The facts as they stand must be recorded. But it should be remembered that, following the new constitution which will be adopted in the near future, some changes will be introduced in the existing system.
Civil. At the head of the administration is the Lieutenant-Governor, directly responsible to the Government of India and exercising all the powers of a Local Government, controlling all departments of the public service except purely imperial branches, military, post and telegraphs. At present there is no Executive Council. The Legislative Council is composed (July 1922) of 29 members, exclusive of the Lieutenant-Governor, of whom 13 are officials. Of the non-official members, two are elected, by the Burma Chamber of Commerce and the Rangoon Trades Association respectively. The rest, official and non-official, are appointed by the Local Government with the approval of the Government of India. Among the non-official members are nine Burmans, one Chinese, one Karen, one Mahomedan, and one Parsi. The Council enacts laws applicable to the whole or any part of the Province, the Shan States included. Members have the right of asking questions, of moving resolutions, and of discussing the budget. Laws passed by the Council require the assent of the Lieutenant-Governor and of the Governor-General.
Under the new constitution about to be established the Lieutenant-Governor will become Governor; the Legislative Council will consist of 92 members of whom 60 per cent. will be elected, and will have wide powers of controlling the administration; the system of dyarchy will be
