§ MR. KEIR HARDIE (Merthyr Tydvil)To ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what lands are reserved for natives in Natal; whether these lands are under the control of the Crown; whether any portion of these reservations has been confiscated recently, and, if so, from what tribes; and what action he intends taking to protect the natives against encroachments upon the lands reserved for them.
(Answered by Mr. Churchill.) The Secretary of State has received the following information by telegram from the Governor of Natal:—"Gobizembe has been fined 1,200 cattle and 3,500 sheep and goats. Land on which Gobizembe's tribe resides belongs to and is administered by Natal Native Trust. Portion of this, with the natives residing thereon, has been placed under author- 1248 ity of two adjoining chiefs. Gobizembe is to be deposed and the remainder of location will for the time being be administered by magistrate. Gobizembe has no legal title to the land in question, and is merely allowed by the Natal Native Trust to locate his tribe thereon during good behaviour. The fine was inflicted by the officer commanding Militia, under authority of martial law and with approval of civil authorities. The punishment which has been inflicted on this chief was in consequence serious acts of defiance towards the magistrate on the part of large section of his tribe and the failure of Gobizembe to comply with orders of supreme chief, as communicated to him by the officer commanding Militia, to deliver up offenders to the authorities." The hon. Member will observe that this answers, in anticipation, a Question which he has put down on the Paper for to-morrow. I should add, in answer to the hon. Member's first Question, that the total area set apart for natives in Natal is over 2,000,000 acres, distributed among forty-two locations, and is vested in the Natal Native Trust, of which the Governor and Executive Council of the Colony are the trustees. It would appear that the measures taken by the Natal Government are entirely within its competence, but the Secretary of State awaits more ample information by mail.