§ MR. KIMBER (Wandsworth)asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether, having regard to the admitted importance of colonization, Her Majesty's Government see any objection to communications being made during the Recess by the Colonial Office to the several Colonial Governments, to inquire whether, and how far, they would be disposed to join with the Home Government (subject to the necessary Legislative sanction on both sides) in guaranteeing or securing a moderate interest on the funds which might be raised in England for effecting such colonization, and to ascertain the conditions or arrangements under which the respective Colonies would recommend that such colonization should be effected?
§ THE FIRST LORD (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster)Various schemes, such as the Question of the hon. Member appears to refer to, received much consideration last year. As Parliamentary Paper No. 4,751 of 1886 will show (pages 27 to 35), Her Majesty's Government were not able to satisfy themselves that this country could safely undertake to guarantee advances made to settlers, nor did the Colonial Governments approve of any of the proposals submitted. Her Majesty's Government are quite alive to the importance of the subject; but as they are not in a position to propose to Parliament any scheme for the guarantee of funds raised for effecting colonization, they do not perceive that any good would be attained by officially inviting the cooperation of the Colonial Governments.
§ MR. KIMBERasked, if the question had ever been put to the Colonial Governments on the particular method of co-operation?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHreplied, that no such question had been put to the Colonial Governments.