HC Deb 12 May 1904 vol 134 cc1184-6
SIR HENRY FOWLER (Wolverhampton, E.)

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether The British Guiana Immigration Ordinance, 1891, was enacted by the local Legislature with the approval of the Colonial Office in 1891; whether its operation was suspended at the request of the Government of India until an officer appointed by them had visited the Colony; whether, after the Government of India (during the Viceroyalty of Lord Lansdowne) had expressed their approval of the Ordinance, it came into force in 1894; and whether the Ordinance of 1891 was not a consolidation of all the then existing Ordinances relating to Indian immigration into British Guiana.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

The Ordinance to which the right hon. Gentleman refers was enacted in 1891 by the local Legislature. It was not, however, previously submitted or approved by the Colonial Office, or by the then Secretary for the Colonies, Lord Knutsford. It was suspended by Lord Knutsford, but not, as I am informed, on the initiative of the Indian Government, which appears to be the suggestion of the right hon. Gentleman. It was first allowed to come into operation by Mr. Gladstone's Government in 1894. The Act was both consolidating and amending.

SIR HENRY FOWLER

I do not propose now to enter into any arguments as to the facts, but will the right hon. Gentleman make arrangements after Whitsuntide for the putting down of the Colonial Office Vote on an early day in order to give me an early opportunity to repudiate on behalf of Lord Ripon and myself the charges so freely made against us in relation to this Ordinance.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I shall be delighted to do my best to arrange Supply to meet the views of the right hon. Gentleman, who, I suppose, represents his colleagues and a large body of opinion on the other side of the House. But I do not quite know what are the charges to which he refers.

SIR HENRY FOWLER

I refer to the speech in the Albert Hall.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

Oh!

SIR. HENRY FOWLER

Will the right hon. Gentleman see that a copy of the regulations under which the Ordinance was put in force is laid on the Table?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman will consult with my right hon. friend the Colonial Secretary as to the exact Papers he desires.