§ MR. NOLAN (Louth, S.)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that Ordinance 17 of 1894 was put in force in the town of Cape Coast Castle, Gold Coast Colony, on February 14th, 1906, and that, under the Ordinance the bulk of the ratepaying population is denied effective representation upon the town, council; and whether, in view of the dissatisfaction amongst the people affected, and of the fact that a deputation is now on the way to London to submit the views of the Omanhim chiefs and people to the 627 Colonial Office, he will, under the circumstances, instruct the Governor to suspend the Ordinance pending the arrival of the deputation and a full inquiry into the facts to be submitted by them.
§ * MR. CHURCHILLThe Ordinance providing for the establishment of town councils to which the hon. Member refers, was extended to Cape Coast on July 1st, 1905. Under the Ordinance half the members of the council may be elected by the ratepayers. The objections which have been raised to the establishment of a town council under the Ordinance have been very fully represented to the Secretary of State, and most carefully considered; and, under the circumstances, the Secretary of State sees no sufficient reason to take the course suggested by the hon. Member.