§ MR. SUMMERBELL (Sunderland)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is yet in a position to report as to the constitution of the nominated town board for Port of Spain and the length of time for which such board has been created.
§ MR. CHURCHILLUnder the Port of Spain Town Board Ordinance, 1907, the town board will consist of eleven commissioners, to be nominated by the Governor, who shall be householders within the town or the waterworks districts. By "householder" is meant any male person of full age who pays rates or taxes in respect of property within the above area or who occupies a house within that area at a rental of not less than £20 a year. The Governor may appoint one of the members of the board as chief commissioner, and has selected Mr. Adam Smith, the secretary of the chamber of commerce, for the appointment. The ordinance does not expressly limit the length of time for which the 609 board is to last, owing, it is understood, to the difficulties which might arise on the expiration of a fixed term. On this point I would refer the hon. Gentleman to my Answer of the 23rd of April. †