§ SIR G. BADEN-POWELL (Liverpool, Kirkdale)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether a Petition has been received by the Secretary of State for the Colonies from landowners and others in the Island 1586 of Tobago, praying that an independent Commission of Judges should inquire into grievances which they allege to have arisen in Tobago in consequence of recent judicial decisions in that island, some of which, they complain, are in direct contravention of the Metayer Ordinance of 1888; and, if so, whether any action will be taken in consequence of that Petition; and whether a Copy of the Petition will be laid upon the Table of the House?
§ (4.30.) BARON H. DE WORMSNo such Petition has been received, but the Secretary of State has received from persons in England connected with Tobago a copy of a Petition from planters and other persons in Tobago to the Queen in Council, complaining of recent judicial decisions in that island, which has not yet been received from the colony. The attention of the Secretary of State has been directed to the great amount of recent litigation in Tobago, in connection with the Metayer system, and he has instructed the Governor of the colony to appoint a Commission to inquire into the working of the system. Until a Petition is received it would be premature to say whether any action will be taken upon it, or whether it will be laid before the House.