§ MR. MOLTENOI beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the Crown lands of the Transvaal, occupied in part by natives, were declared by the Executive Council in 1903 to be liable to be allotted under lease or licence to settlers; whether such a declaration has the effect of cancelling all native rights on the Crown lands, and what provision is made for these natives when lands are so allotted; and whether a matter of such serious importance can be dealt with by an administrative Act, or whether legislation would be necessary in order to make it valid.
§ MR. CHURCHILLThe disposal of Crown lands in the Transvaal is regulated by the Crown Land Disposal Ordinance, 1903.That. Ordinance among other provisions authorises the Lieutenant-Governor to reserve Crown lands for the use or benefit of aboriginal natives as well as to lease Crown lands to settlers and to utilise them for other purposes. I am not aware that any hardship has been inflicted on natives in leasing such land to settlers.