HC Deb 17 February 1899 vol 66 c1291
MR. PIRIE (Aberdeen, N.)

I beg ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies, with regard to the recently issued correspondence relating to the Pitcairn Islanders, in regard to whom we have assumed a sort of moral responsibility, whether the Government propose taking steps to carry out regular communication between them and the Paumoto group of Islands, as recommended in the Report by the Commanding Officer of H.M.S. "Royalist," or to take other steps to improve the conditions of life of the inhabitants of those islands which, if allowed to continue as at present, will pause these islanders to gradually drift into imbecility?

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. J. CHAMBERLAIN,) Birmingham, W.

The honourable Member will see from the correspondence that the High Commissioner of the Western Pacific has been instructed to endeavour to ascertain the possibilities of opening up communication between Pitcairn Island and Tahiti.