§ SIR J. GORST (Cambridge University)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to a pledge given in reference to the military expenditure of the Straits Settlements by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the House of Commons on 25th June, 1891, that if the revenues of the Colony should decrease so that they were less able to bear this contribution than they now are, the Government would feel inclined to review the situation; whether the revenue of the Colony has decreased from 4,409,927 dollars in 1889 to 8,817,890 in 1894; whether, in the same period, the military contribution has increased from 577,633 dollars to 842,100; and whether Her Majesty's Government are now prepared to review the situation?
§ MR. S. BUXTONThe question of the contribution has been under the consideration of the three Departments concerned. A Report has been drawn up by the Colonial Military Contribution Committee, but has not yet been submitted to the Departments. This, however, will shortly be done, and it is hoped that a decision will soon be arrived at. None of the facts and conditions affecting the question will be lost sight of.