HC Deb 09 November 1911 vol 30 cc1816-7
Mr. RAMSAY MACDONALD

asked what was the area in square miles of the concessions to collect rubber and other forests products granted by Chief Kwesi, of Awichiley, in the Axim district of the Gold Coast to the Cort Development Syndicate of London and recognised by the Gold Coast Government under Certificate of Validity No. 249; whether the rights conferred upon the concessionaire preclude the natives of the district in question from trading freely in the natural products of the soil, as they have been in the habit of doing from time immemorial; and, in that event, whether His Majesty's Government will take into consideration the advisability of putting an end to the granting to European syndicates in the Gold Coast of such monopolistic rights in the natural produce of the soil as fetter the economic development of the native communities and are directly opposed to the policy of His Majesty's Government in the other West African Dependencies of Great Britain?

Mr. HARCOURT

I am unable to state the area of the concession in question, except that, under the law by which the concession is granted, it cannot exceed twenty square miles. The customary rights of the natives as regards shifting cultivation, the collection of firewood, hunting and snaring game are reserved, and, while the grant of the concession must necessarily interfere with the indiscriminate collection of rubber by the natives, there is no prima facie reason, having regard to the large area of the Gold Coast and the small population, to suppose that the chief acted unwisely in making the grant or the Supreme Court in confirming it. An officer of experience in land questions is, however, proceeding shortly to the Colony to inquire into the whole subject of these concessions, and particularly whether any further safeguards for native rights are required. On the receipt of his report I shall consider whether any alteration in the law or practice in the matter is necessary.

Mr. RAMSAY MACDONALD

Would my right hon. Friend consider the advisability of publishing it?

Mr. HARCOURT

I will consider that if my hon. Friend gives me notice.