§ MR. MACNEILLI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether Mr. Ker, the Governor of the Falkland Islands, who returned to this country last autumn, has recently gone out to resume the duties of his office, although he is now in his 72nd year; whether he will explain why, although the usual term of a Colonial Governor's office is six years, Mr. Ker has held the government of the Falkland Islands for nearly 10 years, and whether the reappointment of a Colonial Governor who is over 60 years of age is usual; whether specific charges have been made against Mr. Ker, amounting to wilful contravention of quarantine regulations, and the 428 consequent importation of infectious disease, attended with much loss of life, into the Falkland Islands by Mr. Cobb, an unofficial member of the Executive Council of the Falkland Islands, and by Mr. James Smith; and whether the memorials of these gentlemen, embodying these charges, have been received by the Secretary of State for the Colonies; whether Mr. Smith has also, in his memorials to the Secretary of State, accused the Governor of the embezzlement of a sum of £900, and the falsification of public accounts, with the object of concealing that embezzlement, and prayed an investigation into these charges, which have been openly made throughout the Colony; whether the attention of the Governor was directed to these charges during his stay in this country; whether Mr. Smith and Mr. Cobb had any opportunity of becoming acquainted with the replies of the Governor to their deliberate statements, which they have expressed themselves ready and willing to prove; Why, having regard to the gravity of these charges against the Governor, has there been no public investigation into his conduct; and why, having regard to his advanced age, has the unusual course been adopted of permitting him to hold his office for a period far in excess of the term for which such offices are usually held?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Baron H. DE WORMS, Liverpool, East Toxteth)The greater portion of hon. Member's questions were answered by me on the 12th July last. As regards the remaining portion I have to state that there is no rule against the reappointment of Governors of more than 60 years of age, and that Mr. Ker, who is believed to be about 70, is in full physical and intellectual vigour. The Secretary of State has received the memorials of Mr. Smith and Mr. Cobb; no accusation of embezzlement is made in them, and for the reasons which I gave to the hon. Member on a former occasion the Secretary of State does not think any enquiry necessary; but if the hon. Member will communicate with me I shall be happy to give him any further particulars.
§ MR. MACNEILLI will make a statement on this subject on the Estimates.