§ MR. WEDGWOOD (Newcastle-under-Lyme)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, with reference to the Tanjong Pagar Dock Company arbitration, any sums were paid to Lord St. Aldwyn for travelling expenses in addition to the fee of £5,750; and what foes and travelling expenses the other members of the Arbitration Court received.
§ * MR. CHURCHILLLord St. Aldwyn's fee included all disbursements, as did the fee (4,000 guineas) paid to Mr. Inglis, the arbitrator nominated by the Colonial Government. I understand that the company paid a fee of 0,500 guineas to Sir E. Boyle, the arbitrator nominated by them, of which £5,750 was allowed on taxation; I presume that this included disbursements.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLWas not the sum paid to Lord St. Aldwyn the 579 exact capitalised value of the political pension he surrendered to the late Prime Minister?
§ * MR. CHURCHILLI do not see how that has any connection with the matter.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLWe do.
§ * Mr. CHURCHILLThe appointment necessitated Lord St. Aldwyn's going abroad.
§ MR. LYTTELTON (St. George's, Hanover Square)May I point out that Lord St. Aldwyn was appointed umpire on the nomination of the arbitrator appointed by the company, which was accepted by the Government arbitrator?
§ * MR. CHURCHILLI agree. Lord St. Aldwyn had to travel almost the circumference of the globe, and he was away a long period. Expensive as this arbitration has undoubtedly been, I am not at all prepared to say that the expenses paid to him are the least justifiable part.
§ MR. WEDGWOODI beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, with reference to the cost of the Tanjong Pagar Dock arbitration, how many of the witnesses and counsel heard went out from England and how many were resident in Singapore; also how long the arbitration and witnesses were absent from England, and how many sittings they held in Singapore.
§ * MR. CHURCHILLThe Colonial Government were represented by one counsel from England and two resident in the Straits; the company by two from England and two local counsel. Of the Government witnesses, four went from England and twelve wore resident. Four of the company's witnesses went from England and eight wore resident. I am unable to state how long the arbitrators and witnesses were absent from this country; the latter left England at different dates according to the time required for the preparation of their evidence. The Court held ten sittings in Singapore.