§ MR. HENNTKER HEATONI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, whether he is aware that in consequence of the large contribution demanded by Her Majestys Government from the Straits Settlements, the unofficial Members of the Council, or some of them, together with the leading magistrates and other functionaries, have resigned office; and, whether the Secretary of State still intends to compel the official Members of the Council to vote such a contribution as he may decide upon?
§ MR. SYDNEY BUXTONThree, out of seven, unofficial Members of the Legislative Council of the Straits Settlements have resigned their seats, and a fourth Member whose term of office has expired has declined to be renominated; 18 of the Justices of the Peace for Singapore, and the Members of the Chinese Advisory Board, have also resigned; as a protest, it is understood, against the decision of Her Majestys Government, on the subject of the Military Contribution. The correspondence on the whole, question will be laid before Parliament. With regard to the second part of the question, I may observe that it is a general principle of administration, and one not peculiar to the Government of Crown Colonies, that the paid components of a Government should vote in support of Government measures, when required, or else resign their seats.