§ MR. SETON-KARR (St. Helen's)I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much (if any) of the £150,000 loan agreed to be advanced by Her Majesty's Government to the British Columbian Government for colonisation purposes has already been advanced; whether such sum (if any) has been advanced direct to the British Columbian Government, or to any syndicate or commercial company, acting under them or otherwise; by whom the details of the proposed colonisation scheme are being or will be carried out; whether any families have already been selected; and, if so, how many and from what part of the United Kingdom; and generally what progress has been made in carrying out the scheme; and in what sums and on what date the remainder of the loan is to be advanced?
§ SIR W. HARCOURTNo money has been advanced from the Treasury under the British Columbia (Loan) Act, 1892; and, as far as I am aware, no ar- 1043 rangements have been yet completed by the Columbian Government in respect of the conditions necessary for such advance.
§ MR. SETON-KARRIs it the fact that this loan has been definitely agreed to?
§ SIR W. HARCOURTNo, Sir; the loan could not be agreed to until certain conditions which have been laid down with reference to the company that was to be formed have been fulfilled.
§ MR. SETON-KARRWill the right hon. Gentleman state what those conditions are?
§ SIR W. HARCOURTThe conditions are set out in the Act of Parliament. It would be a very long story to enter into the matter fully. Anybody can ascertain for themselves what the conditions are by referring to the Act.