§ MR. BELLAIRS (Lynn Regis)To ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, having regard to the diminished importance of Bermuda in view of the withdrawal of the North American fleet, the reduced establishment of the dockyard, and the reduction of the garrison, the question of the governor and commander-in-chief will be reconsidered, in conjunction with the War Office, seeing that his salary of £2,199 is charged to Imperial funds, and that the duties are, during the leave of absence of the governor, performed by the colonel in command of the troops.
(Answered by Mr. Churchill.) His Majesty's Government consider that the present moment is inopportune for inviting the Colonial legislature to agree to pay a larger proportion of the governor's salary than is now paid by the Colony. But the altered situation has not been lost sight of, and the question of future arrangements is under consideration.