§ ADMIRAL FIELDI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Secretary of State has considered the recommendation of the Acting Governor of St. Helena, in No. 118, Colonial Reports, page 17, as to receiving Imperial assistance towards meeting the expenses of the Government, especially in the matter of the salary of the Governor, in view of the fact that the inhabitants are suffering from the general depression caused by the diversion of ship traffic to the East, from the Cape route to the Suez Canal, whereby the number of vessels calling at the island has fallen from 853 in 1869, to 288 in 1889; and, seeing that the island is held solely for Imperial purposes, and that the revenue is insufficient for local requirements, will the Secretary of State be prepared to ask Parliament for a grant in aid as formerly?
§ BARON H. DE WORMSThe recommendation has been considered, and Lord Knutsford has been in communication with the Treasury upon the subject; but 116 he is not prepared to recommend that Parliament should be asked at present for any assistance.