MR. GORSTasked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether the loss of revenue in Cyprus from systematic frauds in assessment has, dur- 312 ing the last few years, amounted to from £15,000 to £30,000 per annum; whether a collector who, in 1884, reported to the Chief Inspector of Revenue the irregularities, the embezzlement of arrears, and the fraudulent assessments, was dismissed for so doing; whether, on the recent trial of Pappa, the Deputy Inspector, it was proved that the Chief Inspector knew of the frauds in the Famagusta District; whether, on the same trial, the Chief Justice commented on the suppression of evidence on the part of the Government counsel who conducted the prosecution; what charge was brought against the Chief Inspector by the Government of Cyprus; whether he was acquitted after trial, or whether the charge was dismissed by the magistrate in consequence of the non-production of evidence in the possession of the Government of Cyprus; and, whether Her Majesty's Government will cause some impartial and independent inquiry to be made into the history of the revenue frauds in Cyprus?
§ MR. EVELYN ASHLEYNo information that we have yet received supports the estimate of loss suggested in the hon. Member's Question. We know nothing of a collector having been dismissed in 1884. As to the third and fourth Questions, if the hon. Member will communicate the grounds on which the suggestion is based, due inquiry shall be made. As to the fifth and sixth Questions, the charge against Mr. Bistachi seems to have been the taking of "hush money." It was dismissed by the magistrate on the ground of the evidence being untrustworthy. We have no reason to believe that evidence was withheld; on the contrary, that much doubtful evidence was admitted for what it was worth. As to the last Question, I can only repeat what I said the other day, that the Secretary of State, before deciding, must await further Reports from the Governor and the Receiver-General.