§ 9. Mr. MITCHELL-THOMSONasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has received any representations from the Trinidad Chamber of Commerce with regard to the pipe-line agreement?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. Harcourt)I have seen a copy of letters which have passed between the Trinidad Chamber of Commerce and the Colonial Government on the subject, but have not received any representations from the Chamber in regard to the agreement.
§ 10. Mr. MITCHELL-THOMSONasked the Secretary for the Colonies, whether he is aware that, at a meeting of the Legislative Council of Trinidad, held on 29th May, the Governor refused to allow discussion on an amendment protesting against the pipe-line agreement, and supported by all the unofficial members, on the ground that the matter had already been decided by the Secretary of State; and, if so, what steps, if any, he took to make himself acquainted with local opinion in Trinidad before concluding the agreement?
§ Mr. HARCOURTAt a meeting of the Legislative Council, on 21st of May, an unofficial member gave notice to move a resolution for the appointment of a Select Committee to inquire into the agreement in question. I understand that it was the intention of the Governor to oppose the Motion on the ground that the Government could not agree to inquiry by a Select Committee into an agreement Which has been entered into by the Government, with my approval, under powers delegated to it by Statute, and that the constitutional method for the member to take was to move specifically and on due notice that a particular part of the agreement was objectionable. As regards the second part of the question, the Governor and the Director of Public Works were consulted in the course of the negotiations in which the technical adviser of the Colonial Government took part, and the whole agreement was made subject to the approval of the Governor, which has been signified.
§ Mr. HARCOURTI will consider that.
§ Mr. MITCHELL-THOMSONHas the right hon. Gentleman any reason to believe that there is any body of public opinion strongly in favour of this agreement?