§ SIR CHARLES DILKE (Gloucestershire, Forest of Dean)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies when the Report of the Newfoundland Commission will be in the hands of Members; whether there has been fresh trouble on the Treaty Shore; and whether the usual notice has been issued this year by the naval officer on the station fixing the price of bait to other than French fishermen.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. J. CHAMBERLAIN,) Birmingham. W.In answer to the first question, I have to say I am unable to fix any date for the presentation of the Report. I have received no information of any such trouble as is mentioned in the second paragraph. The usual notice of the price for the sale of bait, fixed by a meeting of the local fishermen, was issued.
MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)Is there any legal authority by which the price of bait is fixed by the naval officers on the station?
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINThe hon. Member is under a misapprehension. The price of bait is not fixed by the naval officer; it is fixed at a meeting of the local fishermen.