§ MR. WEDGWOOD (Newcastle-under-Lyme)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the Gold Coast Concession Ordinance of 1900, whereby Native chiefs can sell tribal lands to whites; whether he will ask for a special report on the working of this Ordinance, and the amount of land so alienated, and at what price; and whether he will prevent the passing of similar Ordinances in the northern territories of the Gold Coast or in Northern Nigeria.
§ MR. CHURCHILLThe Ordinance referred to gives no power to natives to sell tribal land, nor does it give the natives any rights which they did not already possess. It was intended to safeguard and regulate the exercise of their rights, by bringing it under the control of the Government and the Supreme Court of the Colony. The Ordinance was introduced with the approval of a native Member of Council who represented several of the kings and chiefs. It has worked well, and there seems no sufficient reason for calling for such a report as is suggested by the hon. Member. There is no intention of introducing similar legislation in the northern territories of the Gold Coast or in Northern Nigeria.