§ *THE EARL OF STAMFORD moved that a humble Address be presented to Her Majesty for the Report of Sir Robert Hamilton upon the administration of the Island of Dominica. He reminded the House that about the middle of last year he had called attention to the lamentable occurrences which had then recently taken place in Dominica. Her Majesty's Government appeared to have thought that those events were really but the external symptoms of a grave and deep-seated malady. It was therefore decided to send out to the Island a Special Commissioner to inquire into its general circumstances, the Island having been in a more or less chronic state of discontent for the last 30 years. Sir Robert Hamilton was appointed Special Commissioner, and went out towards the close of last, year. He remained in the Island long enough to make a thoroughly exhaustive investigation, lie not only held an open inquiry in the chief town, but he made a tour of the Island, and received complaints and heard statements of grievances in the small villages in the locality. It was very gratifying to observe (he was studying the Dominica newspapers carefully this morning and reading; an account of Sir Robert Hamilton's journeyings and his inquiry) the way in which he was received by the people of every creed and complexion and class in the community; and be learned that the visit, was no less gratifying to Sir Robert Hamilton himself than to the members of the community in Dominica, who appeared, and very rightly so, to regard him as the special Representative of Her Majesty, sent out on account of the deep interest which she 301 took in them to inquire into their alleged wrongs. He believed Sir Robert's Report had now reached the Colonial Office, and its publication was awaited with intense interest and anxiety, both in Dominica and in others of the adjacent Islands. It could not be doubted, from Sir Robert Hamilton's well-known ability and from the thoroughness of his investigation, that his Report would prove of great value, and he begged to move for its production.
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Moved—
That a humble Address be presented to Her Majesty for the Report of Sir Robert Hamilton upon the administration of the Island of Dominica."—(The Earl of Stamford.')
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (The Marquess of Ripon)My Lords, Sir Robert Hamilton's Report has only been received at the Colonial Office during the course of the present week. He carried out the important duty which was entrusted to him with all his usual ability, and the thanks of Her Majesty's Government are due to him for the energy and vigour with which he carried out the work which he was good enough to undertake in the Island of Dominica. But, my Lords, as that Report has only just come into my hands, I am not in a position at this moment to accede to the Motion of my noble Friend. It would be quite unusual, and I am sure your Lordships will see it would not be desirable, that a Report of that importance should be laid upon the Table of either House of Parliament until a reasonable time has been given to the Minister concerned in the matter to study its nature. The Report is full and complete, and I have already had a sufficient opportunity of looking at it to know that it is full of interest to all who care for the welfare of the Island of Dominica. Rut I hope my noble Friend will be good enough to postpone his Motion for a time, and when I have had an opportunity of studying the Report I have no doubt that later in the Session I shall be able to comply with his request.
§ Motion (by leave of the House) withdrawn.
§ House adjourned at a quarter before Five o'clock, to Monday next, a quarter before Eleven o'clock.