§ COLONEL HOWARD VINCENTI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies if, having regard to the 541 difficulty of obtaining adequate charitable contributions at the present time owing to financial depression and the expenditure of over £1,000,000 upon the General Election, and the limited number of persons having a personal interest in Mauritius, the Government propose to seek a Parliamentary subvention towards the relief of the widespread ruin in the Colony caused by the recent hurricane?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. GOSCHEN,) St. George's, Hanover SquareI will answer this question on behalf of my right hon. Friend. The Secretary of State for the Colonies has received from the Government of Mauritius a request that Her Majesty's Government would guarantee a loan of £600,000 for the purpose of meeting the wants and necessities created by the recent hurricane and providing funds for certain public works. Her Majesty's Government have taken this request into consideration without a moment's delay, and they have decided to ask Parliament to grant assistance in the manner asked by the Government of Mauritius. The decision of Her Majesty's Government will be communicated to the Government of the Colony without delay.