§ MR. WEDGWOOD (Newcastle-under-Lyme)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, whether he is aware that the public lands in the Falkland Islands are being sold off at the rate of about £50,000 a year; and whether he will consider the advisability of changing the method of sale into that of leasing at periodically revised rents.
§ THE UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. CHURCHILL,) Manchester, N.W.Under the provisions of the Land Ordinance, 1903, the holder of any country land is entitled to purchase the whole of his holding at any time not less than one year before the termination of his lease. Lessees have enjoyed the right to purchase for many years past, and it would not be possible to deprive them of it. The proceeds of the sale of land in the Falkland Islands are invested separately, and form a capital asset of the Colony. The average receipts of 858 the Sale of Lands Fund amounted to about £5,000 a year for the five years 1902–1906, the highest amount in any one year being £12,783. The sum mentioned by my hon. friend is probably quoted from balance of land sales investments, which amounted on 31st December, 1906, to £50,180.