§ MR. ERRINGTONasked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether a Petition was received at the Colonial Office from the island of St. Vincent, dated April 1874, signed by all the non-official members of the Executive Council and of the Legislative Assembly of the Colony, by every landed proprietor, planter, and estate agent, and by every mercantile firm in the island (with one exception), in which it is stated that the taxation of the Colony is excessive, and beyond what is needed for its due administration, and that, owing to the depressed state of West Indian produce, if the taxation be not diminished, the necessary result must be that the majority of the estates in the island will cease to be cultivated; whether any acknowledgment or reply has been sent to that Petition; whether the attention of the Secretary of State for the Colonies has been called to the apparent discrepancy between the above statements, made by so large a majority of the inhabitants of St. Vincent, and those contained in the published Despatch of Administrator Laborde, dated April 16th, 1873, in which he states, with reference to the Colony of St. Vincent, that "there is nothing to complain of," and "that the people are quiet and contented;" whether Mr. Laborde has been asked for any explanation of this apparent discrepancy; and, whether the newly appointed Lieutenant Governor of St. Vincent has been directed to inquire into the grievances alleged by the inhabitants, with a view to the adoption of remedial measures?
§ MR. J. LOWTHERSir, a Petition of the nature referred to by the hon. Gentleman was received at the time stated in the Question. Both before and since its receipt the financial condition 251 of the island and the incidence of taxation have received the anxious consideration of my noble Friend the Secretary of State, and on the appointment of the new Lieutenant Governor (Mr. Dundas) his especial attention was directed to these subjects. With reference to the other points alluded to in the Question of the hon. Gentleman, as active steps were being taken and communications made to the Lieutenant Governor, and through him to the various persons in the Colony who were interested in these matters, it was not considered necessary to enter any further into the matter. I am happy to be able to state, in conclusion, that Mr. Dundas has already proposed, with the concurrence of the elective Members, a revised scheme of taxation, which he believes to be in accordance with the wishes of the community, and which promises to afford general satisfaction, and this scheme has received the approval of the Secretary of State.