§ MR. KIMBER (Wandsworth)asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether his attention, and that of the Chancellor 115 of the Exchequer, have been called to the fact that the Colony of Natal has accepted the principle of the mode of State colonization suggested in this House last Session, communicated to the Colonies by Government despatch in September last—namely, of the funds necessary to be raised for the purpose being guaranteed as to the interest by the co-operation of the Colonial and Imperial Governments, the former undertaking and guaranteeing the administration of the capital and the collection of the interest from the settlers, and the Imperial Government lending its guarantee by way of endorsement of the Colonial security, to enable the money to be raised at the lowest possible cost; and to the fact that the said Colony has made a definite proposal based thereon, offering 200 acres of land (already surveyed, and recommended by the Immigration Board of Natal), and £200 in money advances, for each of 72 families or groups of five persons each; whether they are aware that this offer involves a liability on the part of the two Governments of £432 per annum only, and this secured by 14,400 acres of land with 71 homesteads and the industry of 360 persons upon it working with a capital of over £10,000; whether the Government will accede to the request of the Natal Immigration Board, that steps be taken forthwith to ascertain the number of immigrants of the classes desired which the Colony could obtain on a basis of the above proposal, having regard to the fact that the Board express their opinion that such immigration "would prove a success and benefit to the Colony;" whether the Government will, on the occasion of the discussion of the Supplemental Estimate for Crofter Emigration, or on some other convenient occasion during this or the adjourned Session, afford an opportunity to the House for considering the relative advantages of eleemosynary emigration, and self-paying State colonization, and the importance of the latter from commercial and strategic points of view, especially in South Africa, and whether they will give effect without delay to at least a tentative experiment, such as that now offered by Natal; and, whether the Government will consent to the appointment of a Select Committee to inquire into the question of State colonization, as a matter of general Imperial interest 116 and concern, on a scale commensurate with the demand which the increase of population makes for increased development of the great natural resources of the Empire?
§ THE FIRST LORD (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster)My right hon. Friend and I have seen the replies from the Colony of Natal. These replies were to a Circular sending over the hon. Member's scheme for colonization, and were the only favourable replies from the Colonies that have answered. It cannot be said that the Colony of Natal has as yet given its approval to the proposals of the hon. Member, though the Resolutions of the Land and Immigration Board are favourable, and Her Majesty's Government are not prepared to pronounce an opinion in favour of giving the necessary guarantee. Her Majesty's Government do not propose at present to take such steps as are indicated in the third paragraph of the Question, and for this reason—that a further scheme containing the proposals of the Colonization Committee of both Houses of Parliament has been forwarded to Natal, as well as to the other Colonies, and that the replies from Natal or the other Colonies will be awaited before anything further is done. It is thought desirable to learn how the further scheme is received before dealing with an isolated case, like Natal, under the scheme of the hon. Member. It is the intention of the Government to move for the appointment of a Committee to inquire into the question of State colonization, and opportunity will then be afforded to my hon. Friend for discussing the whole subject.