§ Sir Robert Peelbegged to ask the right hon. President of 635 the Board of Trade, whether any proceedings had been taken by the Government with respect to chartering banks in our East and West Indian Colonial possessions?
§ Mr. Poulett Thomsonsaid, that with regard to the West Indies, a charter had been given by the Crown last summer to enable a company to establish a bank in the West Indies, not conferring any exclusive privileges, but merely giving them the power to bank so far as this company was concerned. That bank was, he believed, now in operation. An application had also been made in the course of last summer for a charter for a bank to be established in the East Indies. He had communicated the views of the applicants to his right hon. Friend, the President of the Board of Control. His right hon. Friend considered it desirable, before the Government came to a decision on the subject, that a communication should be made to the local government, and till an answer was returned to that communication, no further steps would be taken by the Government.
§ Sir Robert Peelwished to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether an opportunity would be afforded to those who were connected with the outports of representing to the Government their opinions on this question?
§ Mr. Poulett Thomsonpromised that they should have the fullest opportunity of stating their sentiments, and that he would give them every consideration.