§ Sir T. BENNETTasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if his attention has been drawn to a petition presented by over 300 Chinese merchants of North Borneo to the British North Borneo Company protesting against the grant of exclusive rights to the British Borneo Timber Company, Limited, to cut timber for export on all State lands as constituting a grave injustice to the Chinese merchants; and whether Clause 17 of the British North Borneo Company's Charter prohibits the setting up or granting of any general monopoly of trade and provides that trade in North Borneo shall be free, subject only to Customs duties imposed for revenue purposes?
Mr. WOODYes, Sir, a copy of the petition referred to has been received. The provisions of Clause 17 of the Charter are substantially as stated in the question. I cannot say whether the grant of exclusive rights to cut timber on all State lands can be held to conflict with this Clause of the Charter, but the British North Borneo Company are being asked for observations on this point, and are being requested to furnish in due course a copy of the answer which they are returning to the petition that has been addressed to them.