HC Deb 14 December 1916 vol 88 cc829-30
42. Mr. MACMASTER

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will say what steps have been taken by the Government, in concert with the Governments of the self-governing Dominions, to provide homesteads for our disabled sailors and soldiers and their dependants upon the land in this country where practicable, but more especially in the vast uncultivated spaces of fertile land in the British Dominions overseas?

Mr. LONG

I am not yet in a position to add anything to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member on behalf of my predecessor on 12th October.

Mr. MACMASTER

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a similar answer was given some time ago; and may I now ask whether it is not time that steps should be taken in order to provide for soldiers and sailors in the manner indicated in the question?

Mr. LONG

Steps are being taken. Obviously it is not an easy matter to arrange in such a form that you can make any statement about it here. I can assure the hon. Gentleman that no time is being lost, and, so far as the Dominion Governments are concerned, they are as anxious that a definite arrangement should be made as we are. We are doing our best to see that adequate preparations are made for these men.

Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKE

May I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman has received any communications with regard to this question from people in this country?

Mr. LONG

I have been in office only for some days, so that I have not received: any communications.

Commander WEDGWOOD

May I ask if the right hon. Gentleman will make inquiries in the Colonial Office as to the scheme which was put forward by the Government of British East Africa for this purpose, and find out how it is going on?

Mr. LONG

Certainly.

46. Mr. MACMASTER

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what concssions of public lands in Canada were made to Sir William Johnson and other United Empire loyalists who faithfully served the Crown during the revolutionary war in the American colonies from 1775 to 1783, and who after the war emigrated to and settled in Canada?

Mr. LONG

I am unable to give the total area of public lands granted in Canada to United Empire loyalists and their children, but it is stated in Lord Durham's Report that, up to the date of the Report, 3,200,000 acres had been so granted in Upper Canada.

Mr. MACMASTER

Will the right hon. Gentleman ascertain the facts with regard to what number of acres were allocated to officers, sergeants and men in these regiments, in order that we may be enabled to consider what would be an appropriate distribution after the present War?

Mr. LONG

The best suggestion I can make to my hon. and learned Friend, is that he should come to the Colonial Office, where we will place at his disposal all our information. He will find there is a great deal there. I could not undertake to ask my officials, who are very heavily worked at present, to embark upon an examination which, I am afraid, would be a prolonged one.

Mr. MACMASTER

I shall be delighted to accept the invitation.

Back to