§ GENERAL LAURIE (Pembroke and Haverfordwest)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the Government of the Dominion of Canada has offered a subsidy of £3,000, and the Government of Jamaica £2,000, towards the cost of the direct telegraph cable from Bermuda to Jamaica, via Turk's Island, and as he stilted in April 1896 that he had no reason to think there are any insuperable constructive difficulties affecting such communication, whether the delay in granting the sanction of Her Majesty's Government is on account of inadequate financial support given, or whether there is any difficulty in consequence of the prior occupation of the West Indies by any other Company which controls the service between Jamaica and the other Islands; and whether he is aware that this Company has announced its intention to give up the service between the Islands if the direct cable to Jamaica should be laid, and that the Company proposing to lay and work the; direct cable has expressed its willingness at once to connect the several Islands by cable, and maintain a satisfactory service at a much reduced rate. In putting his question General Laurie said he believed there was a slight error for which he was responsible. It was stated that the Government of Canada had offered a subsidy. He was informed they had the matter under consideration only.
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERI believe that what the hon. Member states is the case. The Government of Canada are prepared to consider the matter; they have not got further than that. I have reason to beilive that the Government of Canada are disposed to contribute to the cost of providing direct telegraphic communication between Bermuda and Jamaica, but I am not aware that they have offered a subsidy of £3,000 for that purpose. The Government of Jamaica have expressed their willingness to transfer to a company providing such communication the subsidy of £2,000 a year, which they now pay to the 171 Company which now provides telegraphic communication between that colony and the United Kingdom, viâ the United States and Cuba and Panama. In dealing with proposals which have been made for the construction and working of a cable between Bermuda and Jamaica Her Majesty's Government have been obliged to take into consideration not only financial questions, but the provision of communication between Jamaica and Her Majesty's other West Indian possessions. These questions have presented considerable difficulties, which have not yet been surmounted. I am not aware that the Companies to which I understand the hon. and gallant Member to refer in his last Question have committed themselves to the statements which he attributes to them.