Mr. POINTERasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether Mr. A. P. P. Meachey had resigned his seat on the Executive Council of British Guiana; if not, when was the last occasion on which he attended and the number of meetings that had taken place since; and, if he had resigned, whether steps would be taken to appoint a successor, either provisionally or otherwise, representative of labour?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Col. Seely)My hon. Friend, no doubt, refers to Mr. A. P. P. Mackey, who resigned his seat in the Combined Court on 5th of January last owing to ill-health. The Secretary of State is not aware that he has resigned his seat on the Executive Council, and inquiry will be made as regards his attendance at council meetings. In reply to the last part of the question, I must refer to the answer I gave on 10th March.
Mr. POINTERasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he had yet received any information in reply to inquiries as to the possibility of effecting a reduction in the mounted section of 416 the police force of British Guiana, in compliance with the expressed desire of a majority of the members of the British Guiana Legislature; whether he was aware that on an Amendment moved recently to reduce the vote for the mounted police in the British Guiana Legislature the Governor voted against, and then on a tie being declared gave a casting vote against; and whether this action on the part of the Governor in voting twice was correct?
§ Colonel SEELYThe Secretary of State has not yet received the Governor's reply to his inquiries, nor has he any official information in regard to the debate on the proposal for the reduction of the mounted police. A Press report of the debate is substantially in accordance with the information of my hon. Friend. The British Guiana Constitution Ordinance of 1891 expressly provides that the Governor or other presiding member shall have an original vote on all questions before the Combined Court, and also a casting vote, if the votes are equally divided.
Mr. POINTERasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention had been drawn to a debate that took place in the British Guiana Legislature on 23rd February last with regard to the number of successful appeals from decisions of the magistrate of the South Essequebo district; and whether steps would be taken to remove from office this magistrate?
§ Colonel SEELYThe Secretary of State-has seen a newspaper report of the debate to which my hon. Friend refers. The Governor will no doubt make a recommendation to the Secretary of State if it is necessary to do so.