§ 56. Mr. WALTER BAKERasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the directors of the Commonwealth Trust informed the shareholders in the notices convening the annual meeting that they understood that a proposal for the allotment of £2,500 to missions would be made, and that the directors not only intimated in advance 212 their sympathetic support but also that they had been assured that there was no legal objection to the shareholders adopting this procedure; whether he is aware that it was only upon these assurances that the sum in question was not opposed; and whether these assurances had been given by his Department?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. Amery)My attention was called to this proposal by the Commonwealth Trust, who were invited to explain it. On receipt of their explanation they were informed that in my opinion it was open to serious objection and that I hoped it would be abandoned. I have since been informed that they are placing the sum to a suspense account for the present. It follows that no assurance whatever has been given by me on this subject.