§ MR. WEIRI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs will he state what action has been taken to protect against starvation the 20,000 people in the British Central Africa Protectorate who are affected by the famine at Ruo and Lower Shiré; and will he say what has been the increase in the mortality on account of this famine.
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Lord CRANBORNE, Rochester)The scarcity is at present confined to the two southernmost districts of the Protectorate, whilst in the north there are good crops. Relief works have been organised at Chiromo, giving assistance to 200 families, and affording the means of any further relief that may become necessary. The administration is also prepared to make free issues of rice if required. It is hoped that in connection with the recruiting of 1,000 natives for labour in the South African mines, a large number of families will become independent of relief, and the construction of the railway to Blantyre about to be commenced will probably make all assistance from Government needless.