§ MR. BRIDGEMAN (Shropshire, Oswestry)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies to what other purposes £500,000 out of the £3,000,000 allotted to land settlement in South Africa has been temporarily diverted; when that £500,000 will be restored to its original purpose; and by whom will it be administered when so restored.
§ MR. CHURCHILLFrom the Transvaal Guaranteed Loan statement printed on pages 93–94 of Cd. 3,028, the hon. Member will observe that it was estimated that the loan account would be temporarily overspent on 30th June, 1907, chiefly owing to an excess on Head III. Repatriation and Compensation. As the advances made by way of loan under that head are recovered, the loan account will be adjusted, and it is not anticipated that there will be any even- 458 tual excess of expenditure. In the meanwhile the Intercolonial Council thought it proper to delay certain expenditure originally approved, including the £500,000 referred to by the hon. Member. (See page 58 of Cd. 2,563.) It is of course within the power of the Inter-colonial Council, with the approval of the Secretary of State, to restore that sum, when available, to its original purpose; but there is no obligation upon them to do so, and were the sum restored it would be administered by the Land Settlement Board in accordance with the terms of Section 52 (2) (c) of the Letters Patent, subject to any action which might be taken under Section 49 (2) of the Transvaal Letters Patent. (See pages 9 and 11 of Cd. 3250.)
§ MR. BRIDGEMANI beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will state whether the lands purchased under Lord Milner's land-settlement scheme for South Africa, but not occupied, when the new Land Board comes into existence will be administered by the new Land Board; and, if not, by whom, and how will they be administered.
§ MR. CHURCHILLLands not occupied by settlers will not be transferred to or administered by the Land Board, but will be dealt with by the Colonial Government along with other Crown lands.