HC Deb 29 July 1887 vol 318 cc516-8
MR. SALT (Stafford)

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether the non-official Members of Council in Mauritius consist of 19 persons, of whom nine are nominated by the Governor and 10 are elected; whether of these 10, five at least, representing a great majority of the electors in Mauritius, have petitioned for the removal of Sir John Pope Hennessy; whether three of the leading officials of the Colony, who gave evidence on oath before Sir Hercules Robinson—namely, Mr. Elliott, Receiver General, Air. Didier, Acting Puisne Judge, and Mr. Davidson, Superintendent of the Government Lunatic Asylum, have recently been in England; and, whether he has given to them, as well as to the Governor, opportunities to state their views before him?

MR. HENNIKER HEATON (Canterbury)

Before the right hon. Gentleman answers the Question, I would ask him this also—Is it not the fact that, in addition to the majority of the unofficial Members being favourable to the Governor, the large majority also of the official Members of the Council are in the Governor's favour? Is it not the fact that while two Memorials, one signed by over 4,000 and another by over 6,000 persons, have been received in the Governor's favour, the largest number that signed the Memorial against him was only five individuals; and whether that number has not now been reduced?

THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir HENRY HOLLAND) (Hampstead)

With regard to the Question just asked me, I have given the information in a former answer. With regard to the Question on the Paper, I have to say that to the first paragraph my answer is in the affirmative. As to the second paragraph, five of the elected Members petitioned for an inquiry into the conduct of Sir John Pope Hennessy. Those five Members obtained, I am informed, 43½ per cent of the votes given at the General Election, and represent constituencies which include three-fourths of the whole number of electors, who, I may observe, are only about 1 per cent of the inhabitants of the Colony. As to the third paragraph, these three officers are in England. Two of them—Messrs. Elliott and Didier—gave evidence before Sir Hercules Robinson; but Dr. Davidson did not. As to the fourth paragraph, I may point out that these gentlemen were not in the position of the Governor, who was summoned here to give his explanation. I saw no necessity, and had no intention, of re-opening the inquiry beyond hearing the Governor.

MR. ARTHUR O'CONNOR (Donegal, E.)

I wish to ask the right hon. Gentleman, whether the 90 per cent of the inhabitants of the Island who are not enfranchised regard Sir John Pope Hennessy as their friend and protector?

SIR HENRY HOLLAND

To that kind of Question, also, I have already given an answer previously. I said that as regarded the Indians, who constituted most of the people, I did not think that they had taken any very great interest in the matter.

MR. ARTHUR O'CONNOR

Are the Indians of no account?

SIR HENRY HOLLAND

Certainly they are of account; but it does not follow that they took a great interest in the matter.