§ MR. BARTLEY (Islington, N.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the conditions on which the Government of Jamaica has acquired and taken over the railway in that island, and the delay that has occurred in carrying out the colonial obligations involved; and whether he will take stops to press on the colony the duty of no further delay in the matter.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. J. CHAMBERLAIN, Birmingham, W.)The Government of Jamaica has not yet acquired and taken over the railway. An order has been made for the winding up of the railway company, and as soon as the accounts in the winding up have been taken the court will have to make an order vesting the railway in the Colonial Government. In the meantime the trustees of the mortgage bond holders are in possession of the railway. There has been no delay on the part of the Government in carrying out its obligations.