§ MR. PICTON (Leicester)asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether the Secretary of State has received a Memorial adopted at a public meeting in Lagos, and sent to him through the Governor, protesting against any extension of the Charter of the Royal Niger Company; if he can say what answer has been given; and, whether he would consent to lay upon the Table a Return for the year ending August 31, or any other recent date, showing the revenue raised by the above Company by means of export and import duties and trade licences, and likewise showing the items of expenditure to which such revenue was applied?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir JAMES FERGUSSON) (Manchester, N.E.)The Memorial has been received. It has not been answered, as no decision has yet been taken. The wishes of the principal traders in the Oil Rivers, as well as the interests of the shipping firms and of the neighbouring Colonies, are being consulted, and will receive the fullest consideration. As the whole question of the revenue and administrative expenditure of the Company is undergoing investigation, it would be premature, and, perhaps, misleading, to lay Papers which could give only imperfect information on the subject.
§ MR. PICTONasked the Under Secretary, if he was not aware that this matter was very pressing, and that the community at large were very anxious to know the decision of the Government?
§ SIR JAMES FERGUSSONsaid, he was well aware of the urgency of the case; and he could assure hon. Members that no unnecessary delay would occur on the part of the Government.