HC Deb 08 December 1936 vol 318 cc1832-3
58. Mr. MAXTON

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether the members of the Commission of Government in Newfoundland, on completing their first term of office, were given the opportunity of continuing for a further term; and if so, how many declined to continue?

Mr. M. MacDONALD

The original six Commissioners were appointed in February, 1934, for three years service in the first instance. Of the three Commissioners selected from Newfoundland, one, M. Alderdice, died early this year, and the appointments of the other two have been extended for a period of one year from February next. Of the three Commissioners selected from the United Kingdom, one relinquished his appointment in September for personal reasons, and another will do so in February next on the completion of his term, in accordance with a wish to that effect which he had expressed. No change has yet been made in the third post, which is held by a Civil servant seconded from this country.

Mr. MAXTON

Can the right hon. Gentleman say why the period of office of two Commissioners is being extended for one year and why the position is so unpoular with those who are appointed from home that none of them will take a second term?

Mr. MacDONALD

The first question raises another matter altogether, and if the hon. Member will put it down I will certainly answer it. With regard to the second part, only one of the Commissioners has expressed a wish to give up his post at the end of the three-year period for which he was appointed.

Mr. MAXTON

Perhaps I misunderstood the right hon. Gentleman. I understood him to say in his original answer that two of the home Commissioners out of the three had declined to continue for a further period of office. Was I wrong in that?

Mr.MacDONALD

The other case was the case of a Commissioner who never had proposed to continue for more than the first three years seeing that at the end of an extremely valuable three years he had attained the age of 68, and no action was taken to continue another three years.

Mr. MAXTON

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the original inquiry was conducted by a noble Lord who was 83 years of age?