§ Mr. REESasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Secretary of State was aware that the sum of £100 was spent last year in improving navigation on the Shiré River between Fort Herald and Villa Bocage; whether the road and river dues charged upon imports amounted to £1 per ton; and what sum would be devoted this year to the improvement of the river between those ports?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Colonel Seely)In October last the Governor of the Protectorate stated that the amount expended last financial year on improving navigation on the Shiré River between Port Herald and Villa Bocage was £117. The road and river duties charged upon imports are as stated. In the Estimates for 1910–11, as in the Estimates for 1909–10, a sum of £400 has been inserted for the removal of obstructions to navigation on the Upper and Lower Shiré River, but I have no information to show what part of this sum will be devoted this year to the improvement of the river between Port Herald and Villa Bocage.
§ Mr. MITCHELLIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the cost of freight from different parts of Nyassaland to the coast amounts to over £70 per ton?
§ Colonel SEELYThat is a matter I can hardly be expected to carry in my head.
§ Mr. REESWill the right hon. Gentleman see that the services rendered bear some relation to the charges made?
§ Colonel SEELYI hope we shall endeavour to see that that is the case in all parts of the world.