THE BECHUANALAND PROTECTORATE. (Hansard, 15 September 1893)

§ MR. A. C. MORTON (Peterborough)
I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Government have agreed to give a grant of £20,000 per annum for 10 years (on conditions) towards the proposed railway extension in the Bechuanaland Pro- 1285 tectorate; and whether he is aware that the late Government refused to give any such grant without the previous consent of the House of Commons, as set out in telegram of 11th June, 1892, and in letter of 14th June, 1892?

§ MR. S. BUXTON
As regards the first part of the question, I have to state that Her Majesty's Government have intimated their willingness, on certain conditions, to approve of the Bechuanaland Government subsidising the railway extension in question. The subsidy would, if granted, amount to £10,000 a year for 10 years on the completion to the satisfaction of the Bechuanaland Government of the railway to Gaberone's, with the addition of a similar amount for a similar period on the completion of the line to Palapye. The grant of the subsidy would not involve any additional charge to Imperial Funds, as the greater facility of transport would enable the Bechuanaland Government to effect savings equal to or exceeding the subsidy—apart from the increase of revenue that might be expected to result from the opening up of the country to settlers, and apart from the strategic and other advantages arising from railway connection between the Southern and Northern Protectorates. The possibility of the Bechuanaland Government entering into such an agreement, and its ability to fulfil it if made, must depend on the willingness of this House to continue the annual Bechuanaland Grant in Aid; and as to this Her Majesty's Government have not committed and cannot commit the House of Commons, which, of course, remains free to approve or refuse the Votes in Supply, as proposed by the Government. No agreement has yet been made between the Bechuanaland Government and the Railway Company; and it is understood that the latter is not yet in a position to commit itself to concluding the proposed Agreement, or to making the subsidised extension. In regard to the second part of the question, I have to observe that the attitude of the late Government appears to have been correct, and not to have differed in substance from that of the present Government.

§ MR. A. C. MORTON
May I ask if it is the intention of the Government to obtain the assent of the House of 1286 Commons to the Agreement before it is finally signed?

§ MR. S. BUXTON
No. This Agreement, if made, will be in the same position as other subsidies of a somewhat like nature. The House of Commons can, of course, refuse to pass it ultimately.

§ MR. A. C. MORTON
My question was whether the Government intended to ask the assent of the House of Commons to the Agreement before it was signed, and not afterwards?

§ MR. S. BUXTON
No.

§ SIR C. W. DILKE (Gloucester, Forest of Dean)
There is a sum in the Estimates of £100,000 for the Bechuanaland Protectorate. Last year £18,000 was returned out of a like grant; yet the same amount is asked for this year. Will it be in Order to discuss the question of this railroad on the Vote in Aid of the Bechuanaland Government?

§ MR. S. BUXTON
The Grant in Aid of the Bechuanaland Government affords an opportunity for raising any question of administration for which the Colonial Office is more or less responsible; and under these conditions, no doubt, a Debate might be raised. But there is no grant towards the railroad in the Votes for this year, nor is there likely to be for some years to come.

§ MR. BARROW (Southwark, Bermondsey)
What is the length of the line?

§ MR. S. BUXTON
When completed it will be about 400 miles long.

§ MR. PAUL (Edinburgh, S.)
If a saving is not made, and there is a consequent deficit in the Revenues of Bechunaland, who will make that deficit good?

§ MR. S. BUXTON
The proposition is that the Government of Bechuanaland will be able to produce savings which will not only meet the guarantee to be given, but will probably be in excess of it. But if there is a deficit it will have to come out of the Grant in Aid.

§ MR. A. C. MORTON
Would the Chancellor of the Exchequer put down the Bechuanaland Vote for discussion at a reasonable hour?

§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Sir W. HARCOURT,) Derby
They say that at night all cats are gray; and at this period of the Session all hours are reasonable.

§ MR. A. C. MORTON
Does the right hon. Gentleman consider that a reasonable answer?