§ MR. ERNEST BECKETT) (York, N.R., Whitbyasked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies with reference to the Act of the Legislature of the Province of Manitoba, passed in 1886, which guaranteed the interest on the 1886 issue of the Winnipeg and Hudson's Bay Railway Companies, bonds for 25 years, if he was aware that the road was commenced, and the capital subscribed in England; whether he was aware that the present Premier of Manitoba, in November, 1888, publicly and officially recognized this guarantee in a letter to the Chairman of the Winnipeg and Hudson's Bay Railway Company; but that on 2nd March, 1889, the Premier and the Legislature repudiated the statutory guarantee by passing an Act, to which Her Majesty's assent is required; whether the Secretary of State would advise Her Majesty to withhold Her assent to this Act of repudiation; and, whether he would make such representations to the Government of the Dominion of Canada as will direct their attention to the recent action of the Provincial Legislature?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Baron H. DE WORMS,) Liverpool, ToxtethHer Majesty's Government have no cognizance of this subject, which is entirely one for the Provincial and Dominion Governments and Legislatures to deal with. The Acts of the Provincial Legislatures do not come under the supervision of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, but are allowed or disallowed as seems right to the Governor General 1556 of Canada, after taking the advice of his Ministers; and it would therefore be improper for the Secretary of State to make official representations on this subject to the Government of the Dominion, who necessarily have it fully before them in all its bearings.