§ MR. SERJEANT SIMONasked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether the Government of Jamaica has, in order to meet a deficit in the revenue, increased, or is about to increase, the import duties in that Island; whether this breach of our fiscal policy is approved by Her Majesty's Government, Jamaica being a Colony directly under the Crown; and, whether they will exercise their authority and instruct the Governor to meet the deficit by reducing the expenditure, which already bears heavily upon the people, who have no voice in raising it?
§ MR. COURTNEYYes, Sir; it is true that the Legislature of Jamaica has, in order to meet a deficit, made for one year, ending the 21st day of November next, an addition of 10 per cent to the import duties, and has also for the same period increased the Excise duty on rum from 5s. to 8s. a gallon. The Secretary of State has not advised Her Majesty to disallow this temporary measure. With regard to the third part of the hon. and learned Member's Question, I may say that there is a net reduction of about £ 13,000 on the estimate of expenditure for the current year, as compared with the grants for the year preceding.