§ MR CHARLES HOBHOUSE (Bristol, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will state what is the extent of land held by the Government in the Transvaal and Orange River Colony, and how much has been acquired by purchase, confiscation, or succession from the Governments of the late Republics; whether the Government are purchasing land in either of the above colonies and what steps are being taken to make an English Settlement on such lands, and what is the total number of applicants with experience of farming and without previous experience respectively.
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINInformation as to Government lands is published at pages 69 and 245 of Code 627, and I have no later information. These lands passed to the colonial administrations upon the annexation of the Republics. No land has been acquired by confiscation. Lord Milner has acquired by purchase in the Orange River Colony a number of blocks of farms amounting altogether to over 60,000 morgen. The question of the exact steps to be taken with regard to settlement is still under consideration, and 499 I cannot at present make any Statement. The number of applicants both with and without farming experience is large, but I cannot at present give the numbers.