§ 19. Lord H. CAVENDISH-BENTINCKasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the statement of the chief native commissioner of Southern Rhodesia that the number of natives in that Protectorate who now own land has reached eight; and whether he proposes to take any steps towards accelerating the process by which the natives of that territory may become tribal or individual owners of alienated or unalienated land?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI have not yet seen the statement referred to. I do not think that it is possible for me to take any 1024 steps in the direction indicated in the second part of my Noble Friend's question. A suggestion that districts should he set aside in Southern Rhodesia in which natives alone might acquire land was considered in connection with the draft Letters Patent, and dealt with in paragraph 10 of my despatch to the High Commissioner for South Africa published in Cmd. 1573.