HC Deb 08 June 1880 vol 252 cc1458-9
SIR WILFEID LAWSON

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies a Question of which I have given him private Notice. It is with regard to a paragraph which appeared in this morning's Daily News. I will read the paragraph, and then I shall ask him if it is true. It is— We hear that it is not the intention of the Government to ask the House of Commons to make any Vote to Sir Bartle Frere as High Commissioner. It appears that a Vote of £500 on account was taken by the late Government, but that it is now intended to drop the remainder from the Estimates. In this event Sir David Wedder burn's and Sir Wilfrid Lawson's proposed opposition to the Vote will necessarily fall to the ground. Will my right hon. Friend kindly tell me if there is any truth in the paragraph?

MR. GRANT DUFF

The paragraph is quite true, so far as the Government are concerned. The functions of the High Commissioner having been transferred to Sir George Pomeroy Colley, and he having received a large salary for the discharge of those functions, the Government does not think it would be right to ask the House to vote the salary twice over.

SIR WILFRID LAWSON

Then there will be no opportunity of discuss- ing, on the Estimates, the policy of recalling Sir Bartle Frere?

MR. GRANT DUFF

I will answer that Question on Thursday.

MR. COURTNEY

I wish to ask, Whether it is not true that, before the Estimates were laid on the Table by the late Government, Sir Bartle Frere was entirely relieved of the duties now assigned to Sir George Pomeroy Colley; and whether he is not, in fact, in precisely the same position with respect to South Africa as he was when the Estimates were laid on the Table?

MR. GRANT DUFF

I apprehend that that is so.