§ MR. MACNEILL (Donegal, S.)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Secretary of State for the Colonies has received from Mr. James Smith, of Stanley, Falkland Islands, two Memorials dated respectively the lit May and 7th May, 1889, making grave and specific charges against Mr. Ker, the Governor, amounting to wilful contravention of quarantine regulations and the consequent importation of infectious disease, attended with much loss of life, into the Falkland Islands, and also accusing the Governor of malversation of public funds and falsification of public accounts, and praying an investigation into these allegations; and, whether, in view of the gravity of the charges and the serious discontent of the inhabitants of the Falkland Islands, the Government will take any steps to inquire into these accusations?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Baron H. de WORMS,) Liverpool, East ToxtethThe Secretary of State has received two Memorials from Mr. James Smith, of Stanley, accusing the Governor of the Falkland Islands of having contravened quarantine regulations. Mr. Smith states that measles have been introduced into the colony with fatal results, not in consequence of the alleged contravention of quarantine regulations, but in consequence of their inefficiency; he does not accuse the Governor of malversation of public moneys, but states his belief that there has been a falsification of an account and asks for an inquiry. After reading the Governor's statement in answer to the Memorial, the Secretary of State is satisfied that the statements in the Memorials imputing mis- 260 conduct to the Governor are unfounded, and he does not propose to make any further inquiry into them.
§ MR. MACNEILLWill Mr. Smith have any opportunity of seeing the Governor's statement? Is ii not an ex parte statement?
§ BARON H. DE WORMSThe documents have been referred to the Secretary of State, who will exercise his own discretion in the matter.
§ MR. MACNEILLIs the period of five years the usual term fixed for the sojourn of a Colonial Governor in a colony; for what reason, having regard to the discontent of the colonists, and the repeated complaints forwarded to the Colonial Office respecting his conduct, has the term of office of the Governor of the Falkland Islands been extended beyond the usual period; why has he held his present office for eight and a-half years; and, how long is he to continue to hold it?
§ BARON H. DE WORMSThe usual term of a Colonial Governor's tenure of office is six years. The term of office of the present Governor of the Falkland Islands was extended beyond that period because he had, in the opinion of successive Secretaries of State, administered the Government with great care and success, and there was no opportunity of promoting him to another government. Occasional complaints have been made against him, but those have not proved to be well-founded, and the Secretary of State has no reason to believe that the colonists generally have been discontented with him. He has held his present office for eight and a half years, and I am not prepared to say how long he will continue to hold it.
§ MR. MACNEILLHas it not been always understood that the re-appointment of a Colonial Governor cannot take place if he is over 60 years of age, and in this case is not the Governor over 60?
§ BARON H. DE WORMSI do not think there is any rule to that effect.
§ MR. MACNEILLMay I ask whether the Governor of the Falkland Islands introduced, early in May, in his Executive Council, a Bill for the abolition of the office of Coroner in those Islands; whether the office of Coroner was held by the Colonial Secretary, who is also the Police Magistrate and Postmaster, and has had no legal training; whether 261 the effect of the Bill is to enable the Colonial Secretary to act in cases, which under the former system would have come before him with a jury, without the intervention of a jury; whether, on Mr. Brandon, one of the Members of the Executive Council, recording his vote against the Bill, the Governor stated his Council should support him in all things and dare not vote against him; whether, on a meeting of the Legislative Council to consider this Bill, at which some of the public were present, the Governor, in his opening speech, stated that the Falkland Islands were a Crown Colony, and that the people had no rights or privileges; and, whether the Colonial Secretary will, on receipt of a Petition from the inhabitants of the Falkland Islands, about to be forwarded to him by the honourable Mr. Cobb, a non-official Member of the Legislative Council, consider the propriety of vetoing this measure?
§ BARON H. DE WORMSThe Governor of the Falkland Islands recently introduced in the Legislative Council an Ordinance to abolish the office of Coroner, which was no doubt previously considered by the Executive Council. The office of Coroner is held by the Colonial Secretary, who is also Police Magistrate and Postmaster, and has had no legal training. The effect of the Ordinance would be as stated in the third paragraph of the question as regards inquests in the town and Port of Stanley—in other parts of the Colony the inquisitions would be held by two Justices of the Peace. The Secretary of State has no information as to what took place, either in the Executive or Legislative Council, with respect to the Ordinance, except that Mr. Cobb, an unofficial Member of the Legislative Council, voted against the Second Reading. In view of the strong objection to the Ordinance, which appears to be entertained by many of the inhabitants, the Governor has withheld his assent to it pending instructions from the Secretary of State, who has decided to direct him not to assent to it, although a measure of this kind has worked well in other colonies.
§ MR. MACNEILLI beg to give notice that on account of the unsatisfactory answers of the hon. Gentleman, I will take an early opportunity of 262 bringing before the House the state of the Falkland Islands.