ADMIRAL FIELD (Sussex, Eastbourne)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether Her Majesty's Government or Secretary of State have considered the state of things existing in St. Helena, as revealed in the Report No. 63 for 1891, recently issued, in which the Governor states that his gloomy forebodings in 1890 were more than justified by the year under review; and whether, in view of the general financial depression and the serious fall in the Revenue, the serious character of the Census Return, which shows an excess of females over males of about 16 per cent., and the state of things described in the Report, the Secretary of State will consider the advisability of assisting some of these people to emigrate to South Africa who may desire to do so, and generally to consider whether the condition of the island demands more attention than it appears to have received?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. S. BUXTON,) Tower Hamlets, PoplarThe melancholy state of things existing in St. Helena has received the most anxious consideration of the Secretary of State. An account of the efforts which have been made ever since the shipping began to decline, more than 20 years ago, to find employment for the people by developing the natural resources of the island will be found in the Annual Report for 1889. Unfortunately, these efforts have not been successful; and the only remedy for the distress is, probably, to be found in emigration. In 1891, through the kindness of the Admiralty, 75 persons were conveyed to 1233 the Cape by a troopship; and perhaps, if a similar opportunity occurs again, the Admiralty will allow some more emigrants to be taken.
ADMIRAL FIELDWill the Government assist in emigrating these poor people, and, as was done on the former occasion, send a man-of-war?
§ MR. S. BUXTONWe are in communication with the Admiralty on the subject.