§ 62 and 63. Mr. LUNNasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) whether any representation has been made to him by the town council of Georgetown, British Guiana, on the hardship occasioned by the new ordinance requiring immediate proceedings against ratepayers whose rates are in arrears; and, if so, what form this representation has taken and what reply he has made;
(2) whether in view of the fact that the Government of British Guiana has admitted its obligation to refund to the town council of Georgetown the large sum overpaid in respect of interest on the sewerage scheme, but has spread the repayment over 35 years, he will give instructions for a reasonable period to be allowed for the funding of all arrears of town taxes and rates outstanding at date, say 25 years, or, alternatively, whether he will give instructions that the new ordinance for the collection of rates be held up until an inquiry has been held into questions at issue between the town council and the Colonial Government?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister)On the 14th December, 1934, a telegram was addressed to me by the Georgetown Town Council, through the Acting Governor of British Guiana, requesting that the new legislation to which the hon. Member refers should be held up pending further investigation of the council's difficulties. I replied that, while I was prepared to consider any representations submitted by 982 the council through the Acting Governor, I saw no ground for deferring legislation designed to facilitate recovery by the Georgetown Council of rates and taxes properly due, and thus to assist them to meet their liabilities to the Colonial Government for their share of the costs of the Georgetown sewerage scheme under a re-allocation favourable to the town council approved by me in November, 1932. I have approved of the Colonial Government's considering any appropriate scheme which the town council may put forward having as its object the extension of the period of the Funding Loan which was raised by the town council to facilitate the payment of arrears.
§ Mr. LUNNIn view of the hardship entailed on these poor people, is it possible to show a little more leniency?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI think that, if my lion. Friend will study this question, going back for about 15 years, he will find that the settlement made was one much more favourable to the ratepayers than that recommended by the committee of inquiry. I think they have had a pretty good deal.