§ 20 Colonel WEDGWOODasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1), whether the British South Africa Company has, in addition to land sold for cash, and for considerations other 136 than cash, disposed of 2,298,000 acres of land for which no payment has yet been received, and what steps His Majesty's Government proposes to take to recover payment for these lands;
(2), whether, seeing that Lord Cave's award of £4,000,000 to the Chartered Company is subject to two deductions to be decided upon after valuation by other Commissions, these Commissions have yet been appointed; if he can state what is the composition of the Commission appointed to investigate the value of the lands alienated in Rhodesia to the company itself, and for considerations other than cash;
(3), whether it is now within the knowledge of His Majesty's Government that the total area of land alienated by the British South Africa Company in Southern Rhodesia to company promoters and others for considerations other than cash exceeds 15,920,000 acres; whether he is aware that the average value of land alienated in Rhodesia has been stated by the company to be 7s. 6d. per acre; whether, in these circumstances, His Majesty's Government anticipates that the Crown, instead of being a debtor to the company, will be in a position to claim a surplus; and, if so, to what purpose such surplus will be devoted?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. Churchill)It is the case that the British South Africa Company have in the course of their administration of Southern Rhodesia disposed of considerable areas of land for various considerations other than cash, and have also appropriated certain lands for their commercial purposes. The area quoted as 15,920,000 acres is believed to be approximately correct. I have no knowledge of the figure 2,298,000 acres referred to. With regard to the value of 7s. 6d. an acre, I am unable to say what relation this may bear to the value of the land at the time the grant was made. The question of accounting for the lands is dealt with in paragraphs 72–75 of the Report of Lord Buxton's Committee, which is published in Cmd. 1273, and the matter is at present under consideration. I do not think that the hon. and gallant Member need anticipate that the deductions to be made from the award of Lord Cave's Commission in respect of these lands will place the Crown in the position of being able to claim a surplus.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODMay we take it that there will be a genuine valuation of these lands, and not the acceptance of any offers such as those that have been made public by the British South Africa Company, of some £100,000? Shall we have a definite valuation in accordance with the letter of Lord Cave's award and in accordance with Lord Buxton's views?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI think that in dealing with a matter of this very great importance, which at any stage may form the subject of legal process, I should be very ill advised to answer questions without adequate notice.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that this £4,000,000 would otherwise come out of the pocket of the British taxpayer, and is it not his duty to protect the British taxpayer as well as investors in the British South Africa Company?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI do not think that is the case. I do not think it will come out of the pocket of the British taxpayer. It is contended that the assets are sufficient to defray whatever charges there may be, and, although I am no ambassador for the investors in the Chartered Company, at the same time it is to be remembered that this company, to whom we owe the development of these regions, has never hitherto received a penny in dividends.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODSurely the right hon. Gentleman is aware that they have received shares in other companies? Apart from that, will he see that this £4,000,000, or whatever sum it amounts to, if it is not met by the British taxpayer, is at any rate not thrown on the backs of the natives of Rhodesia—that their lands are not taken from them and sold or mortgaged to meet this charge?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIt is quite impossible for me to deal with these questions at this period.
§ Earl WINTERTONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the people of Rhodesia greatly resent the attempts made in certain quarters to introduce prejudice into the matter?
§ Colonel WEDGWOODMay I ask the Leader of the House whether we shall 138 have an opportunity of debating this matter, so as to see on which side the prejudice is?
§ Mr. SPEAKERWe have not taken the Colonial Estimates yet.