§ 61. Colonel WEDGWOODasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the speech by Sir Humphrey Leggatt, at the meeting of the British East Africa Corporation, in which he refers to the enormous increase in the salaries of officials and taxation of natives in Kenya Colony; whether the expenditure has increased from one to two millions annually; whether interest on the new loan has now to be added; and whether he will appoint a Committee to recommend all-round reductions of expenditure and more equity of taxation in this Colony?
Mr. WOODThe answer to the first part of the question is in, the affirmative. I do not propose on this occasion to discuss Sir Humphrey Leggatt's figures, which relate to last year, and are in some respects inaccurate. Moreover, they do not show sufficiently the extent to which a nominal increase in expenditure, &c, as reckoned in sterling, is due to local currency changes. The estimate of expenditure for 1921 was £2,371,000, and for 1922 £1,946,000, but important reductions on this figure have already been made. Loan charges will be due when the amount set aside out of the proceeds of the loan for payment of interest pending the completion of the works is exhausted. The burden will fall almost entirely on the Uganda Railway, whose finances are kept separate from those of the Colony. The Governor has already appointed a Committee with the precise objects suggested by the hon. and gallant Member, and he has also within the last month reduced direct native taxation by one-fourth.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODWill this Committee appointed by the Governor be able to deal with the Governor's own salary, which has risen, with allowances, to £18,000 a year?
Mr. WOODThat is one of the inaccuracies in Sir Humphrey Leggatt's figures to which I have referred. The Committee will obviously be able to review the whole thing.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODCan we have the actual figures as to the Governor's salary and allowances?