HC Deb 15 July 1908 vol 192 cc844-5
MR. MITCHELL-THOMSON

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether a loan from the St. Vincent eruption fund for the purpose of clearing volcanic ashes from the Carib Canal has twice been recommended by him to the Governor of the Windward Islands, with the concurrence of the Administrator of St. Vincent and the Legislative Council; whether the I Governor stated that, in his opinion, the decision to refuse sanction for the loan should be reconsidered in the interests of the island; whether the Administrator concurred in this opinion; and whether, if so, he will now reconsider his decision.

I beg also to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his suggestion that a loan, not exceeding £5,000, should be made from the surplus revenue of St. Vincent for the purpose of re-opening the Carib Canal has been favourably received by the Governor of the Windward Islands, the Administrator of St. Vincent, the Legislative Council, and the community; and, if not, whether he still insists on it as preferable to a loan from the eruption fund.

COLONEL SEELY

It is true that the grant of a loan from the eruption fund has twice been recommended by the Governor of the Windward Islands, with the concurrence of the Administrator of St. Vincent, though we have not been informed that the Legislative Council also concurred. The Secretary of State has not yet received a reply to his telegram, agreeing, on certain conditions, to a loan from surplus revenue. He does not, however, propose to depart from the decision of his predecessor, in which he has already expressed his concurrence, that the invested portion of the eruption fund should be held as a reserve against future disaster and should not be invested locally.

MR. MITCHELL-THOMSON

Does not the hon. Gentleman consider it a serious interference with the wishes of the Colonies not to pursue the course unanimously suggested by the Governor, the local Administrator, and the Legislative Council, and approved by all members of the community?

COLONEL SEELY

I cannot say it is approved by all Members of the community. No doubt it would be to the advantage of some but in the view of the Secretary of State and his predecessor it would not be to the advantage of others.