§ MR. R. MCKENNA (Monmouth, N.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies, whether he will lay upon the Table of the House the Annual Accounts and Estimates rendered by the British South Africa Company, in accordance with section 17 of their Charter?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN,) Birmingham, W.The provisions of Article 17 of the Charter of the British South Africa Company seem to a certain extent ill-adapted to the circumstances of the case, and the Company have found themselves unable to comply with it strictly. The only accounts of receipts and expenditure that I have are those which are appended to the annual reports of the directors, and these I will place in the Library.
§ MR. H. O. ARNOLD-FORSTER (Belfast, W.)I beg to ask whether the right hon. Gentleman will grant as an unopposed Return full particulars 339 with respect to the shareholders in the Chartered Company, in the form asked for in the Notice now on the Paper: and, whether he will cause such Return to be printed and circulated for the benefit of Members of the House?
§ MR. H. LABOUCHERE (Northampton)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies, whether he will lay upon the Table a transcript of the register of shareholders in the British South Africa Chartered Company, showing the original allottees of shares in the said Company, and the names of all persons who from time to time have been registered as shareholders therein, and the number of shares in respect of which each shareholder is or has been registered?
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINI am afraid that it is practically impossible to give this information in the form asked for. In December, 1893, a return was given to Parliament of the original and the then shareholders in the British South Africa Company, the United Concessions Company (Limited), and the Exploring Company (Limited), with the number of shares held by each shareholder. A further return could now, if desired, be given giving the present shareholders. But the information which is asked for is contained in books which I am informed fill six rooms and hold some millions of entries. The Company employ 30 clerks constantly at this work, and even if the return were given it could not give correctly all the information required. For in many cases the occupation is not stated, and sometimes the names of the transferees are those of nominal holders and the consideration paid is not necessarily that paid by the first transferee but only the settlement given after several transactions. Altogether the return involves such enormous labour and expense, and would be so imperfect that I do not see my way to give it as asked for, but if my hon. Friend will inform me of the object he has in view I will see if his wishes can be met. I may remind the hon. Members that in December 1893, a return was given to Parliament of the original shareholders and of the then shareholders in the British South Africa Company, and if it would meet the view of my hon. Friend I can 340 see that the return of the present shareholders is now afforded in addition.
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERThere was a return issued in 1893. Can we have a similar return for the present year?
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINYes, there would be no objection to that if the hon. Member would move for it.
§ MR. LABOUCHEREThe return of 1893 I think was not of the original shareholders, but simply of the shareholders at that moment. Will the right hon. Gentleman give us a return of the original shareholders, such as is necessarily in other companies sent to Somerset House, and subsequently a return for each year at the end of the year? I quite admit what the right hon. Gentleman said that it would be an enormous work; but, on the other hand, we ask that we should be placed in the same' position in regard to this Company that we should be in regard to all limited liability companies.
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINI will inquire about that. My present information is that in the return moved for by the hon. Gentleman in 1893 the names of the original allottees are given. If that is not the case, I will see to the matter.