§ MR. HEALYasked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, If it is a fact that Mr. M'Leod, the Provost Marshal of the Colony of St. Vincent's, the person who, by virtue of his office, has control of and is responsible for the management of the prisons of that Colony, recently made to the Secretary of State a number of serious charges against Mr. Gore, the Lieutenant Governor of St. Vincent's, in connection with the management and control of the prisons of the Colony, in which Mr. M'Leod accused Mr. Gore of immorality in connection with the female prisoners, and of gross abuse of his position as Lieutenant Governor; if it is a fact that all inquiry into those charges was refused, and that Mr. M'Leod was compelled by the Colonial Office to withdraw the charges he had made; if 342 it is intended to hold any independent inquiry into the truth or otherwise of Mr. M'Leod's charges; and, whether the Sectretary of State for the Colonies recently declared in the House of Lords that the West Indian prisons required the strictest supervision?
§ MR. EVELYN ASHLEYThe charge made against Mr. Gore by Mr. M'Leod was addressed, not to the Secretary of State, but to the Governor-in Chief of the Windward Islands, and was that Lieutenant Governor Gore had curtailed Mr. M'Leod's rightful powers as head of the gaol, and sought to deny him a voice in the management of the Kingstown Prison; but there was no reference to any immoral conduct. The statement in the House of Lords referred to in the Question was made by the Earl of Carnarvon, and it was one with which everybody would agree.
§ MR. HEALYAlthough it is an admitted fact that the West Indian prisons require supervision, nothing at all is to be done.
§ MR. EVELYN ASHLEYIt is a fact that they require supervision, and also that they receive it.
§ MR. HEALYI beg to give Notice that I shall draw attention to this matter, and to the conduct of the hon. Member, on Report.