§ 76. Mr. A. SHAWasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has received a petition from the Chamber of Commerce at Gibraltar, addressed to him through the Colonial Secretary, Gibraltar, last summer, praying for an inquiry into the expenditure of the Colony; and what answer he has returned?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLYes, Sir. They submitted a memorial asking that expenditure be reduced, and I replied that I was confident that all proper economies would be effected. The Governor later appointed a Committee to review the Colony's finances, but the Chamber of Commerce declined to co-operate, and I am again corresponding on the subject.
§ Mr. SHAWIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that a complaint against the extravagant expenditure was the gist of this petition to himself, that absolutely no reply has been transmitted to this important public body in Gibraltar, and that the only inquiry set up is one for which they never asked, namely, as to fresh sources of revenue?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI hope it is not quite so bad as all that, but I shall he glad if my hon. Friend will give me any information he has on the subject.