HC Deb 03 July 1906 vol 159 cc1612-3
* MR. CATHCART WASON

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will lay upon the Table of the House all information connected with a large timber concession in East Africa; also the terms on which the construction of a railway in connection with the said concession has been arranged, and the financial responsibility of the Government direct for the same.

MR. CHURCHILL

The timber concession referred to by the hon. Member is no doubt the leases of forests at the Eldama Ravine to Messrs. Lingham and Grogan, particulars of which are given on page 18 of the Return of Grants of Land in the East Africa Protectorate Command Paper 2902 of 1906. The question of the construction of a railway in connection with this concession is under discussion, but no agreement has yet been arrived at on the subject.

* MR. CATHCART WASON

asked if there would be any financial responsibility upon this country.

MR. CHURCHILL

said the railway would have to be made either from funds supplied from this country or by some private body in return for certain land concessions; but no decision had been arrived at.

* MR. CATHCART WASON

But have the Government undertaken any financial responsibility in connection with this railway?

MR. CHURCHILL

said the railway itself was in a much too nebulous condition for him to say anything more. He believed the railway would be a useful and paying branch of the Uganda Railway, but no † See (i) Debates clviii., 388. plan had yet been decided upon. No proposal had been made that the Government should construct the railway. Proposals had been made by private firms, but not decided upon.

* MR. CATHCART WASON

The concession is absolutely useless without the railway.

MR. ASHLEY

Will not this concession and railway be very useful in opening up East Africa?

MR. CHURCHILL

I think it is important for the development of East Africa, full of ripe possibilities, that the railway should be provided.