MR. ENGLEDEWI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will consider the desirability of taking some steps that will lead to the breaking up of the large estates in the West Indian Colonies, principally owned by absentee landlords who are to a great extent only able to cultivate or make use of a very small portion of them, and of 1523 giving increased facilities and help to the native population to purchase small farms?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. J. CHAMBERLAIN,) Birmingham, W.I am considering the best means of encouraging the settlement of the labouring population of the West Indian Colonies on small plots of land as peasant proprietors; and, in one case, that of St. Vincent, the House has already voted a sum of money to assist in that object.