§ MR. SCOTT (Ashton-under-Lyne)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that Messrs. Mendelssohn and Bruce's claim, rendered in December 1901, for the use 1614 of their printing plant and machinery (Johannesburg Standard and Diggers' News), at Rissik Street, and of their jobbing and printing plant, machinery and premises in Harrison Street, Johannesburg, amounted to the sum of £9,525, full details of every item being given, and that the Transvaal authorities reduced this claim to £4,895 as equitable compensation; and can he state how this reduction was arrived at, and what were the reasons given for so reducing it.
§ MR. CHURCHILLI am aware of the account from which the hon. Member is quoting: the sum of £4,895 is set down in it as estimated equitable compensation. I am not in a position to state how the reduction was arrived at.
§ MR. SCOTTI beg to ask the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that the equitable compensation of £4,895 credited to Messrs. Mendelssohn and Bruce by the Transvaal authorities in 1902 remains unpaid at the present time, and that, notwithstanding the delay and loss of interest for five years, the Colonial Office, acting on behalf of the Transvaal Government, now offers Messrs. Mendelssohn and Bruce a sum of £2,500 in full settlement of all demands; and can he inform the House why such an. offer was made as an act of grace.
§ MR. CHURCHILLThe sum of £4,895 quoted in the hon. Member's question appears to have been set down in the account as an estimated amount. The sum of £2,500 which has been offered has been arrived at after careful examination locally, and the offer has been made as an act of grace because the Transvaal Government recognises no legal liability in the matter.
§ MR. SCOTTI beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, if he is aware that the Harrison Street premises and jobbing and printing works and plant, belonging to Messrs. Mendelssohn and Bruce, and seized by the I military authorities and used by them for a period of sixteen months, were let on lease to Messrs. Matthews and Walker of Johannesburg, for several years before and during the war, at a monthly rental of £250, and that since the war these 1615 premises have been unlet owing to the fact that the plant and machinery when handed over were in such bad condition as to render them practically useless, and that prior to the war the plant and machinery were valued at £18,000, and are now worth barely £2,000; and whether, when again bringing this matter to the notice of the Governor of the Transvaal, in order that Messrs. Mendelssohn and Bruce's reasoned protest may receive fair consideration, due emphasis will be given to the damage done to the plant and machinery during the time it was in possession of the military authorities, having regard to the fact that it was in excellent condition when taken possession of by them and is now practically useless.
§ MR. CHURCHILLThe Secretary of State is not prepared to admit the accuracy of the statements made in this Question, which are matters of controversy; but the points raised will be brought to the notice of the Governor.