§ SIR JOHN DICKSON-POYNDER (Wilts, Chippenham)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will furnish a Return of all lands in the Transvaal withheld from sale for settlement under the Gold Law or any other law creating a possible monopoly of lands in the hands of individuals or companies. I beg also to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will furnish a Return of lands proclaimed under the Gold Law, which are held by individuals or companies for gold exploration and production, but are being withhold from agricultural development; and whether he will take steps to remove any restrictions upon the development of such lands for agricultural purposes.
§ MR. RUNCIMANAny alteration in the Transvaal Law affecting the tenure of these lands will be a matter for the consideration of the responsible government about to be conferred upon the Colony. If with this information before him, my hon. friend still desires the Return for which he asks, the Secretary of State will ascertain from the Governor whether it is possible to furnish it.
§ SIR JOHN DICKSON-POYNDERI beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can say to what purpose the £500,000 allocated, but not voted, for land settlement in South Africa has been applied; and whether it is the intention of the Government to cause this amount to be replaced to the Land Settlement Fund.
§ MR. RUNCIMANI would refer my hon. friend for explanation to p. 58 and p. 59 of Cd. 2563, Head III., of the Guaranteed Loan, which allotted £5,000,000 to meet claims for repatriation and compensation after the war has been overspent, and until the recoverable out-standings of the item of advances made by 926 way of loan have been realised the money is not available. But my hon. friend may be assured that the desirability of maintaining the operations of the Land Settlement Fund by all reasonable and practicable moans is fully recognised by the Secretary of State.