312 MISCELLANEOUS 



their general approval of the Arrangement, and by suggesting cer- 

 tain modifications, gave it to be understood by implication that if 

 these were obtained they would be prepared to give the Arrangement 

 their support when brought before the local Legislature for final 

 confirmation. After further negotiation with the Government of 

 France the modifications in question had been substantially conceded, 

 and it was naturally supposed that the Arrangement in its amended 

 form would receive the full and loyal support of the Government of 

 this Colony. Her Majesty's Government had naturally taken it for 

 granted that there would be no departure here from what was a lead- 

 ing principle of responsible government in England, namely, that by 

 which the successors of an Administration carry out its undertakings 

 with the outside world, even when opposed to their own views of ex- 

 pediency. They could not have supposed beforehand that a change 

 in the personnel of the Government would make any difference in the 

 obligation to support the Arrangement, and it was therefore with 

 much surprise and very great disappointment that they had learned 

 of the present difficulty, which apparently threatened to nullify the 

 Arrangement, and to render futile all the pains and labour which had 

 been devoted to it. 



In the earnest hope of overcoming this difficulty I would now ask 

 them to state to me the objections which they took to the Arrange- 

 ment; for while I was already aware of their general nature, it was 

 desirable that I should have them before me officially. . 



3. In response to this invitation the Premier, Mr. Thorburn, after 

 mentioning several minor objections, which were evidently regarded 

 as of comparatively little importance, finally brought forward the 

 principal one, which is in reference to the XVIIth clause, on the 

 subject of the bait supply. 



4. The representations made on this subject by him and other mem- 

 bers were in effect these: That the bounties granted in aid of their 

 fishermen by the French Government, together with the unfair ad- 

 vantage possessed by them not only in France but in the important 

 market of Spain, were threatening serious disaster to the most im- 

 portant industry of the Colony, which was already in so depressed 

 a condition that a large number of the people were in a condition of 

 great distress and suffering; that there was a general belief among 

 the people of the Colony that in withholding or checking the supply 

 of bait there was a ready means of contracting this advantage on the 

 part of their competitors, and they were therefore unwilling to give 

 up what was regarded as the key of the position and the only avail- 

 able means of saving themselves from ruin. It was also urged that 

 the feeling was so generally prevalent and so deeply rooted that it 

 would be quite impossible for any Government to carry through the 

 Legislature the Arrangement in question while it contained this Bait 

 Clause, even if objections on other points were overcome. I further 

 gathered from what was said that at the date of the favourable 

 Minute of the former Government, the market price of fish was much 

 higher than now, and the bounties were therefore comparatively little 

 felt; but these now amounted to nearly 50 per cent, of the present 

 reduced price, and thus gave an advantage against which competi- 

 tion could not be sustained. 



5. In reply, after answering in detail the various minor objections 

 which had been raised, and showing as regards the subject that every 



