§ MR. SUMMERBELL (Sunderland)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can state whether the qualification for a town commissioner-ship at Port-of-Spain has been fixed at an annual rental of £20; and whether, seeing that such a rental will debar a representative of the working class from being appointed to such a position, he is prepared to take any action in the matter with a view to the qualification being put on a 60 more democratic basis, an annual rental of £12.
§ THE UNDER - SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. CHURCHILL,) Manchester, N. W.I do not know whether the Ordinance which has been introduced to provide for the constitution of the Port-of-Spain Town Board has been passed by the Legislature of Trinidad, and I am therefore unable to furnish the hon. Member with the information he seeks. But in any case the qualification for a town commissionership at Port-of-Spain appears to be a matter which should be left in the first instance at any rate to the discretion of the local Legislature.
§ MR. SUMMERBELLWill the right hon. Gentleman get the information?
§ MR. CHURCHILLThe Ordinance will come over in due course, and I will take care the point raised by the hon. Member is borne in mind.