§ Viscount Goderichmoved the third Reading of the West India Colonies Relief.
§ The Duke of Wellingtonasked the noble Lord, whether it was intended that the grant to the islands of Demerara, Barbadoes, Essequibo, and Berbice, should terminate with the Session, or should be continued by an annual bill.
§ Viscount Goderichsaid, that the grant had been given for one year only in the first instance. The Government had thought it their duty to apply for means to give that relief under these circumstances. His Majesty had authority over these islands which he did not possess over some of the other colonies, which had domestic legislatures; and in the exercise of that authority 1362 certain Orders in Council had been issued, restricting the labour of the slaves, and regulating in particular, the treatment of that part of the population. By those regulations, additional cost was thrown upon production: and therefore, especially as those islands were suffering from other causes in common with the rest of the West Indies, and were therefore the less able to meet any additional cost on produce at present, it was thought advisable to give them some assistance. But as the grant was intended, as he had said, to meet the additional cost which it was supposed the Orders in Council would cause, if the Orders were not adopted, the occasion of the grant would not exist.
§ The Duke of Wellingtonsaid, that all he wished to know was, whether the grant would be continued annually so long as the Orders in Council continued to be enforced.
§ Viscount Goderichreplied, that the Government could not pledge itself upon the subject. Whether the grant should be continued or not would depend upon the effect which the operation of the Orders in Council might have upon the cost of production. The Government, therefore, could come to no opinion further than respected the present year.
§ Read a third time and passed.