§ SIR THOMAS ESMONDE (Dublin Co., S.)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the reasons which have induced the Colonial Office to advise Her Majesty to disallow the Act to amend the constitution of the Leeward Islands, which passed the Federal Council of the Colony of the Leeward Islands in February, 1890; and, if this Act has not been disallowed, what are the reasons which have prevented the passing into law, and the proclamation in the Colony, of an Ordinance which formed the most important item in the Governor's Address to the Leeward Islands Federal Council in the Session of 1890, and which was introduced by the Attorney General of the Colony, and carried by the votes of both the nominee and the official members thereof?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Baron H. de WORMS, Liverpool, East Toxteth)The Bill to amend the constitution of the Leeward Islands was reserved for the signification of Her Majesty's pleasure. It has not been disallowed; but the Secretary of State considered that supplementary legislation by the Island Councils was required before the Royal Assent could be given to it, and when that legislation has been passed the Secretary of State will be prepared to advise assent to the Constitution Bill.
§ SIR THOMAS ESMONDEI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that the Provost Marshal of the Presidency of Dominica, in the Colony of the Leeward Islands, has been engaged for several hours each day during the months of October, November, and December last, in selling the houses and lands of over 1,000 peasant proprietors for default under the House and Land Tax Ordinance; and that for want of bidders at these official sales the President's clerk has been detailed to buy in such houses and lands for the Government; and that, owing to these sales, an impetus has been 1522 given to emigration from the Island of Dominica to the French settlement of Cayenne, and to the Republic of Venezuela; and whether, under these circumstances, the Secretary of State will instruct the Governor of the Leeward Islands to reduce or abolish this tax?
§ BARON H. DE WORMSThe Secretary of State has received no information from the Governor of the Leeward Islands as to the matters referred to by the hon. Baronet; but his attention has been called to the fact that the Official Gazette of Dominica contains a large number of notices of sales of leases and land for default in payment of Land and House Tax. The Governor will be called upon for a Report on this tax, and until that Report is received the Secretary of State is not prepared to say what instructions he will give.
§ SIR THOMAS ESMONDEI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies if it is a fact that, while the gross value of the exports from the Island of Dominica is given as amounting to £65,000 annually for all products, the revenue exacted by the Government is £22,000, or one-third of the yearly production; and, if these figures are incorrect, what are the correct for revenue and exported produce respectively for the year just ended; and whether it is the intention of the Secretary of State to sanction any further loans on the local revenue of Dominica for public works, the interest and sinking fund of which will have to be provided by increased taxation?
§ BARON H. DE WORMSReturns have not been received of the revenue of Dominica or of the gross value of exports from the Island in 1890. The estimated revenue for 1890 was £21,482; the average value of exports for the ten years ending in 1889 was £54,752; and the average revenue for the same period was £18,345. The Secretary of State has not been asked to sanction any further loan for public works.