§ MR. ANDERSONasked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether Government has received a Memorial from the late Sanitary Commissioners at Gibraltar, complaining of the statement made by him on the 8th February, and asking for a public inquiry; whether such inquiry is to be granted; whether that Sir John Adye has only been able to find one gentleman to act upon the Sanitary Commission although there ought to be eight; whether payment of rates is being refused on the ground that the assessing body is no longer legally constituted; and, whether Government mean to continue attempting to levy rates through the official minority, or if they mean in the old or in some new way to give the people some voice in the levying and spending of taxation?
§ MR. EVELYN ASHLEYSir, the complaint arose from a misapprehension of what I said, which was understood to convey personal blame to the Commissioners, whereas the system and procedure of the Commission were alone pointed at. This has been explained in a despatch from the Secretary of State, which will, no doubt, be quite satisfactory. It is true that only one gentleman out of the eight unofficial members takes any part at present in the deliberations of the Commission. We have not heard of any refusal to pay the rates. The old way is still open for the voice of the people in the matter of taxation; and Her Majesty's Government—in the words of Lord Derby's despatch to which I have already referred—
Are sensible of the good service rendered to the community of Gibraltar by the unofficial members of the Sanitary Commission, and have no other desire than that their valuable cooperation should continue to be given as heretofore.
§ MR. ANDERSONHas the hon. Gentleman seen a Petition which was presented a few days ago by the hon. Member for Colchester?
§ MR. EVELYN ASHLEYNo, Sir; I have not.