Dr. Morganasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that under the Quit Rents Law in Jamaica the local government can seize any holding on which taxes are owing, sell it by auction for a sum far in excess of the debt, making no refund of the excess to the owner or debtor; that if an owner seeks to regain possession after seizure he cannot do so simply by settling the arrears with costs, but must outbid all others at the auction, the government keeping the full price without refund; whether this statute is to be amended or repealed in the near future; what protest the Jamaican Agricultural Society board of management has recently made against such action; and what steps are proposed to ameliorate the present position?
§ Mr. Harold MacmillanThe Quit Rents Law of Jamaica provides that if quit374W rent remains unpaid for five years proceedings may be taken in the supreme court for forfeiture of the land to the Crown and the Crown, if successful, is entitled to be put into possession. No information is available as to the action generally taken by the Crown after judgment has been obtained in the supreme court, but as the judgment vests the land in the Crown as if no grant had been made the Crown is free to auction the land as owner. The proceedings for forfeiture can be satisfied before judgment by payment of arrears and of Crown costs. No information is available of any protest by the Jamaica Agricultural Society. The Governor of Jamaica will be asked for a report.