§ 26. Sir R. Aclandasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the ill treatment by police in St. Vincent of the hon. Ebenezer Theodore Joshua, Member of the Legislative Council; and whether he has held or will hold an inquiry.
§ Mr. LytteltonYes, Sir. I have received a petition from Mr. Joshua alleging that he was ill-treated by the St. Vincent police on his recent arrest on a charge of creating public mischief. Mr. Joshua was convicted on this charge and an appeal is now pending before a higher court. I am not in a position to take any action on his petition until the courts have finally disposed of this case and until I have had a full report from the acting Governor in the light of these proceedings.
§ Sir R. AclandAs I understand that this man is something of a No. 1 trouble maker from the Government's point of view, is it not rather important to lean over backwards to see that he gets justice and that any complaint of his is investigated, for the sake of winning the confidence of the people in general?
§ Mr. LytteltonThis case will be investigated with every impartiality.