§ MAJOR ARBUTHNOTasked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether, considering the opposition shown by members of all religious denominations in Mauritius, and the strong and so far successful resistance made in the Legislative Council, to the proposed disestablishment and disendowment scheme propounded by the Colonial Office, the Secretary of State for the Colonies will undertake to direct the Acting Governor of that Colony not to take any further steps towards an alteration of the existing Law affecting ecclesiastical establishments until the inhabitants shall have had sufficient time to make their views known, and, if necessary, until the subject shall have been discussed and decided by Parliament?
§ MR. KNATCHBULL-HUGESSENI hope, Sir, that the Papers in connection with this Question will be delivered to-morrow. By them my hon. and gallant Friend will find that we have anticipated his wishes, and that the Officer administering the Government of Mauritius has been instructed to defer the legislation in question until full time has been given for considering the views expressed by the colonists.