§ MR. AINSWORTH (Argyllshire)I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, having regard to Lord Milner's statement that after providing £250,000 for improvements, the railways will still have a considerable balance to the credit of the Treasury, he is now prepared to press for a settlement of the claims of Great Britain on account of the railways of South Africa.
THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. AUSTEN CHAMBERLUN, Worcestershire, E.)The hon. Member's Question appears to be based upon a complete misapprehension of the financial arrangements of the colonies. The surplus revenue of the railways is credited to the Inter colonial Budget, but is insufficient to meet the expenditure charged against it. The balance is made good from the separate revenues of the two colonies. There is therefore no balance of revenue available from the railways for the purpose named.
§ MR. AINSWORTHCan the right hon. Gentleman say how soon there is a prospect of the payment being made?
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINI can add nothing to what I have said.