§ MR. LOUGHI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether an active agitation has sprung up in British Guiana against the burden thrown on the taxpayers by the cost of coolie immigration; whether he has received any memorial on the subject; and whether it will be open to that colony to bring this matter before the Permanent Commission under the Brussels Sugar Convention on the grounds that it is of the nature of a bounty to the sugar producers; and if he can see his way to relieve the general taxpayers of the West Indies of any further obligations in the matter.
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINIn answer to the first part of the hon. Member's Question, I have to state that the memorial to which he refers has not yet been received. In reply to the second part I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I returned to the recent Question of the hon. Member for King's Lynn on the same subject, 22nd June, 1903.†