Page:The Annual Register 1899.djvu/153

 1899.] The Royal Niger Company. [145

all its stages, and Scotland was included in its scope. The determination with which this bill had been carried in opposition to the strong personal views of the Prime Minister was in curious contrast with the readiness with which a number of measures, all more or less important, were abandoned by the Government without a protest from any side of the House. The Money Lending BiU, the Undersized Fish Bill (intended to save our coast fisheries from destruction), the Irish Tithe Rent Charge Bill, the Metropolitan Streets Act (to give the police increased powers for dealing with the congested traffic of London), and the Parish Churches (Scotland) Bill, which had twice passed the Lords, were among those which Mr. Balfour proposed (July 17) to drop, and the hint that unless he did so members might be detained in town was sufficient to insure general acquiescence.

There was still, however, a good deal of business which needed immediate attention, including the bill for taking over the assets and responsibilities of the Boyal Niger Company. The bill had to be founded upon a resolution, of which the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir M. Hicks-Beach, explained (July 3) the financial bearings at some length, that the chief reason for making the change which the Government proposed in the company's position was the friction that had occurred in West Africa between France and Great Britain. This had been put an end to by the treaty which the French Government had recently ratified ; but it had become clear that the company was not capable of discharging with complete satisfaction our international obligations. In consequence of what had taken place, the Government had been forced to organise a West African frontier force, so that now there was within the territory both an imperial and a civil authority, and this led to difficulties. It was proposed that the company should be relieved of all its administrative rights and duties, and should make over to the Government all its treaty rights, lands, and mineral rights, and such of its administrative buildings and plant as might be required. It would be reduced to the position of a trading company, being left in possession of the buildings, stations, and wharves actually in its occupation at present ; but the company, the Government held, was entitled to the full recognition of the position which it had created for itself, and of the rights which it had acquired in the territories covered by the charter. When that charter was granted, the company was allowed to levy Customs dues for the cost of administration, and to include in that cost a sum representing liabilities already incurred, which sum was fixed at 12,500Z. a year. On that charge on the Customs dues the company raised 250,000Z., which was a debt, and the Government purposed taking it over and to raise 300,OOOZ. in order to redeem it at once. Then the company had a claim to be reimbursed for what he called " unexhausted im- provements/ ' and it was intended to pay them 300,00(M. under

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