§ COMMANDER BETHELL (York, E. R., Holderness)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will lay upon the Table of the House a Return showing for each year in the Australasian Colonies the revenue obtained from the sale and lease of Crown Lands, the expenditure incurred (1) in the improvement of Crown Lands from surveys, roads, fencing, water, &c.; (2) in connection with natives; and (3) by assisting immigration; the revenue of the Colony raised by taxation; the area of land alienated from the Crown; the area of land remaining?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Baron H. de Worms,) Liverpool, East ToxtethI fear it is quite impossible to procure such a Return. We have not the necessary information here, and the labour which its compilation would entail upon the Colonial Governments would be very great. The three last items, however—namely, the revenue raised by taxation, the area of land alienated, and the area remaining unsold, might be procured for the last year, but Her Majesty's Government cannot promise even so much without first communicating with the Colonial Governments.
COMMANDER BETIIELLAll I ask is that the Government should supply the Returns as far as they are in their possession. The information in great part is already accessible in this country. All that is required is to supplement the Returns so as to make them complete.
§ BARON H. DE WORMSI am afraid that I can make no promise, as the statistics are not in the Colonial Department. Application would have to be made to the colonies for them.
§ COMMANDER BETHELLWill the right hon. Gentleman apply to the colonies for them?
§ BARON H. DE WORMSYes; so far as the last Return is concerned.