§ SIR THOMAS ESMONDE (Dublin Co., S.)asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, How many estates, sugar and coffee estates principally, have been thrown up and abandoned in the West Indian Colonies by their owners since the introduction of Free Trade and of bounty-paid sugar to Great Britain from the Continent; how many estates have been sold by the Government of the West Indian Colonies under the Incumbered Estates Act; how many estates (with their extent in acres) have been sold by the Government of the West Indian Colonies for Land Tax unpaid; and, whether Her Majesty's Government intends to appoint a Royal Commission to inquire into the condition of those colonies?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. E. STANHOPE) (Lincolnshire, Horncastle)I am not able to give the House much information with regard to the first three Questions. The Governments of the West Indian Colonies do not sell estates under the Incumbered Estates Act, but the sales are made by the In-cumbered Estates Commissioners on the application of mortgagees and others interested in the estates. A Return of the number of such sales could be obtained from the Commissioners if the House desires it. The other two Returns would be troublesome and expensive, and would have to be obtained from, the Colonies. Her Majesty's Government has no intention of appointing a Commission to inquire into the condition of these Colonies. A Royal Commission, appointed by right hon. Gentlemen opposite, and of which the hon. 541 and gallant Member for Portsmouth (Sir William Crossman) and my hon. Friend the Member for the Kirkdale Division of Liverpool (Mr. Baden-Powell) were Members, made an admirable Report on many of these questions in 1882–3.