§ MR. HANBURY(for Mr. COCHRANE-BAILLIE) (St. Pancras, N.)asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether the Government have ever received any representations from Australia, with the object of sending out an Expedition for the exploration of the Antarctic Seas?
§ THE FIRST LORD (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster)Yes, Sir; but I regret to say that after communicating with those best qualified to advise on such matters, Her Majesty's Government were not convinced that either the commercial or the scientific results of the Expedition were likely to be such as would warrant any Imperial contribution towards the expenses at a time when so many more urgent demands had to be provided for.