84. Mr. CATHCART WASONasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will state when the concession of the phosphates of the Gilbert Islands was granted to Lord Stanmore; if Lord Stanmore was the High Commissioner in the Pacific at the time, or how long before the concession was granted he had enjoyed that office; if he will state what consideration, either in cash or in kind, the Government received in respect of the concession granted; if the concession has been granted for an unlimited period, and, if not, when will it come to an end; if there is any information at his disposal to show how many tons of phosphates have been exported from the islands and the approximate value; and whether the natives of the islands have received any more benefit from the concession granted to a few individuals than the natives of the Congo received from King Leopold?
§ Colonel SEELYThe concession was originally granted in 1901 to the Pacific Islands Company, of which the late Lord 1883 Stanmore was one of the directors. He had retired from the post of High Commissioner twenty years before that date. The present concession is for 99 years, dating from 1st January, 1901, and the company pays to the Protectorate Government 6d. a ton on all the phosphates annually exported from the island, but arrangements are now on the point of completion with the company under which they will make a further annual contribution of 6d. a ton for the special benefit of the natives. The exports to the end of 1908 were given in reply to a question on 6th April, 1909. For the years 1909–1911 they amounted to 122,000, 167,000 and 135.000 tons. I am unable to give the precise value of the exports, which of course depends on market prices. The last sentence of my hon. Friend's question is one which I cannot answer.
§ Colonel SEELYI will inquire, and if the information is available—I think it will be—I will reply to a further question.