§ GENERAL SIR GEORGE BALFOUR (Kincardine)asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, If his attention has been drawn to the debate in the Legislative Council of Barbadoes on 29th December, 1886, wherein, according to The Barbadoes Agricultural Reporter of 7th January, 1887, it was admitted by Members on both sides that the credit of the Colony was being pledged in support of a Water Company which had issued a prospectus containing statements not in accordance with facts; that the Railway and Water Companies are principally supported by the same Directors; whether he will point out to that Government that no portion of the subsidy of £6,000 per annum granted to the Barbadoes Railway, of only 21¼ miles in length, now reaches the British investor, although in the prospectus it is "specially appropriated" to the preference shareholders; and, whether, as the consulting engineer and certain Directors have protested 334 against the management as being extravagant and incompetent, and against the consequent injury to the credit of the Colony, he will recommend, should it appear that the engineering departments, &c. are entrusted to an official who is not a qualified engineer, and who has no previous experience as a manager, that the said subsidy be withheld pending further instructions and reform?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir HENRY HOLLAND) (Hampstead)With regard to the first part of the hon. Member's Question, I would refer to the reply given by me on the 4th instant to the Question of the hon. Member for Wandsworth (Mr. Kimber) on this subject. I am informed that none of the Directors of the Water Company are Directors of the Railway Company. It does not appear that the Government of Barbadoes has any concern with the manner in which the subsidy payable by it to the Barbadoes Railway Company is applied. If there has been any improper application of the subsidy it would seem to be a question for a Court of Law. The Government of Barbadoes has no power to withhold the subsidy, which is payable under an Act of the Colonial Legislature, so long as the conditions on which it is payable are shown to exist.