HC Deb 19 February 1900 vol 79 cc363-4
MR. BRYN ROBERTS (Carnarvonshire,) Eifion

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether Mr. Newton and Sir Graham Bower, who gave evidence before the South Africa Committee, are still in the service of the Crown; and, if so, in what capacities, and whether they have been reduced or promoted.

MR. J. CHAMBERLAIN

Sir G. Bower is now serving as Colonial Secretary in Mauritius and Mr. Newton as Colonial Secretary in British Honduras. In neither case is the appointment considered as valuable as that previously held by the officer. Sir Graham Bower was without salary for fourteen months before he took up his appointment in Mauritius.

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL () Donegal, S.

Before these gentlemen were appointed on the recommendation of the right hon. Gentleman did he satisfy himself as to their strict personal honour?

MR. FLAVIN () Kerry, N.

Why were not the two gentlemen sent to Pretoria?

[No answer was given.]

MR. BAYLEY () Derbyshire, Chesterfield

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he expressed his approval of the text of Sir Graham Bower's memorandum explaining his position with regard to the Jameson raid, before the Colonial Office appointed him Her Majesty's representative at Mauritius.

MR. J. CHAMBERLAIN

I do not know to what memorandum the hon. Member refers. I have no record or recollection of having approved the text of any memorandum by Sir Graham Bower, who is, of course, not Her Majesty's representative in Mauritius, only Colonial Secretary.