VISCOUNT GALWAY,in rising to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has received any further information with regard to the water famine at Port of Spain; whether it is-true that the water is only turned on for a few hours daily; and whether he will, in concert with the Director of Public Works, take the necessary steps to have Port of Spain adequately supplied with water in accordance with the plans prepared and recommended last year, said: My Lords, since I last put a question to the noble Lord the Secretary of State for the Colonies in regard to the water famine at Port of Spain, it has been stated that water has only been turned on for a few hours daily. This is a matter of great importance to the inhabitants of the town, and I beg to ask the question which stands in my name.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Lord KNUTSFORD)My Lords, there is no doubt that, unfortunately, there has been a very severe drought in Trinidad, and, as sometimes happens even in this country, it has been found necessary to lessen the regular daily supply of water. I am informed that the water supply in Port of Spain has been shut off during a part of each day; but it is not quite correct to say, as in the question, that it is only turned on for a few hours a day. Since the noble Viscount last asked a question on the subject, I have had no further information from the Governor. It rests with the Colonial Government and the Colonial Legislature to decide what steps, if any, can be taken to improve the water supply, or what course should be adopted for that purpose. I have, however, called upon the Governor to report to me fully upon the subject.