§ MR. ASHTONI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Crown Agents for the Colonies are appointed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies; whether the staff of the Crown Agents is appointed by them; and whether the commission allowed to be levied by the Crown Agents on stores, railways, general business, etc., goes in relief of the general cost of the maintenance of the office or is part of the remuneration allowed to the Crown Agents individually; and, if so, how is it divided amongst them.
§ * MR. LYTTELTON(1) The Crown Agents for the Colonies are appointed by the Secretary of State; (2) Their staff is appointed by themselves; (3) All the commissions levied by them, under the authority of the Secretary of State, go into the general fund, out of which the office is maintained and on which the salaries fixed for the Agents individually are charged; and (4) no part of such commissions is divided amongst 1230 them, and they receive no remuneration whatever beyond their fixed salaries.
MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)Is there not now a very large balance of that general fund not applied?
§ [No answer was returned.]