§ Mr. LEACHasked the Under-Secretary for the Colonies, if he would now revoke the order to tax the inhabitants of Lagos for half the cost of erecting an Episcopal church building and the expenses of maintaining the chaplain, seeing that of the 41,000 population one-third were Moslems and that only about 400 were Europeans, and that it was contrary to Liberal principles for the State to teach or pay for teaching the doctrines of any sect?
§ Colonel SEELYI can add nothing to the full statement which I made on 21st March last, except to explain that the expenses in question will not be borne by the inhabitants of the town of Lagos, but will be met from the revenues of the whole Colony; and also that it has been decided that whenever the chaplaincy shall become vacant, the whole question of its continuance or otherwise shall be reconsidered.
§ Mr. LEACHMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he would erect a Methodist meeting house and sustain a Methodist minister on the same terms?
§ Colonel SEELYI have stated on many occasions in this House that the Government pursue a policy of entire impartiality in this matter; and, if any other body wishes to set up a church, we shall be only too glad to consider it.
§ Mr. LEACHMay I further ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he would entertain a proposal to erect a Moslem mosque and sustain a Mahomedan priest?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI think the hon. Member had better put his question down.
§ Colonel SEELYWe do that already.