§ 11. Mr. Marquandasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the salary of the Governor of British Honduras; and what annual honorarium is paid to him from the funds of the Bliss Trust.
§ Mr. HareThe Governor receives £3,000 salary plus £750 duty allowance. He also receives £300 a year from the Baron Bliss Trust.
§ Mr. MarquandIs not this arrangement a relic of an out-of-date system when Colonies, however poor, had to meet the whole of their responsibilities from their own revenues? Would it not be better for Her Majesty's Government now to compound the whole lot in a salary and to leave the Bliss money for other purposes?
§ Mr. HareI do not know whether the right hon. Member realises that under the will the terms provide that the trustees should be persons holding for the time being the offices of Governor, Colonial Secretary and Attorney-General of British Honduras, of whom the Governor should be chairman, and that the chairman should receive £300 per annum.
§ Mr. MarquandDo I understand that it is mandatory on the Governor to receive his money as well as to be a trustee?
§ Mr. HareI will look into that, but it is difficult to upset the terms of a will. It is a very generous bequest, and people have a right to say how the money which they leave should be used, especially when it is left for charitable purposes.