§ MR. DAVITT (Mayo, S.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has received a memorial from the people of Dominica protesting against the conditions laid down by the Colonial Office in relation to the recent Imperial grant to that island, which demand the modification of the existing constitution of Dominica, so as to ensure the predominance of Crown nominees over elected representatives in the Legislature; whether previous to the introduction of centralised government there was a surplus in the Island Treasury; yearly taxation not exceeding £14,000, and no public debt; and whether the debt has reached £80,000, with annual deficits, since the control of the finances has been assumed by the Crown; and whether it is the intention of the Colonial Office to force this new constitution upon Dominica; and, if so, can he state on what grounds the change is required?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE TOR THE COLONIES (Mr. J. CHAMBERLAIN,) Birmingham, W.No, Sir; but I have received a memorial from a considerable number of the inhabitants of the island; including many landowners and several of the clergy, praying for the establishment of Crown Colony Government. The change of constitution in Dominica, to which I suppose the honourable Member refers, took place in 1865, when the Assembly was composed of seven elected and seven nominated members. The island was at that date in a state of financial embarrassment, and it then owed £6,520 to Her Majesty's Government, £3,579 to its public officers for arrears of salary and pensions, and £698 to sundry other creditors. The present debt is £70,000, which has been incurred chiefly for public works which were approved by the Assembly. The proposal 468 for a change in the constitution is due to the fact that Her Majesty's Government are not prepared to give aid to this and other West Indian colonies unless they have in their own hands the control of the finances. I may add that out of a population of 26,841 only 176 electors took part in the voting for the elective members.