§ MR. J. WILSON (Govan)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has received a petition from Jamaica praying him to withhold the consent of the Crown to a Bill lately passed by the Legislative Council of the Island giving increased facilities for the sale of rum; whether he is aware that this action has caused great dissatisfaction to those who are deeply interested in the moral and material prosperity of the people of Jamaica; and whether he can see his way to grant the prayer of the petitioners?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIESYes, the petition in question and the law to which it refers have been received and will receive my most careful consideration, but I am not at present in a position to express any opinion on the subject.