§ 8. Mr. BONWICKasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, when the net amount of the deficits of the Chartered Company is 858 established, these deficits are to be defrayed, not by a cash payment, but out of future sales of the unalienated land; whether in Rhodesia unalienated land has been technically taken to mean land hitherto occupied only by natives; and whether, in order to facilitate the sale of these lands, His Majesty's Government will consider the advisability of recommending that the native occupants be given the first right of purchase by a system of payment by instalments?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. Ormsby-Gore)The procedure mentioned in the first part of the question is that which is contemplated in the draft Letters Patent providing for the establishment of responsible government in Southern Rhodesia; but the arrangement is contested by the British South Africa Company, who have presented a Petition of Right on the subject. There is nothing to prevent natives from purchasing land, which is generally paid for in instalments, but I do not think that the procedure suggested in the last part of the question would facilitate the object in view.
§ 9. Mr. BONWICKasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that his predecessor, speaking on the Colonial Office Vote in 1919, stated that the Commission under Lord Cave would determine what were the proper administrative deficits of the British South Africa Company, and then announced that His Majesty's Government would accept the findings of this Commission as a correct and final interpretation in terms of money of the Privy Council judgment and whether the company concerned has had its attention drawn to the nature of this undertaking announced to Parliament upon the appointment of the Commission under the present Lord Chancellor?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREThe reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, the statement of my right hon. Friend was made after the correspondence as to the acceptance of the decisions of the Commission, which is printed on pages 6 and 7 of Cind. 1,129.
§ 10. Mr. BONWICKasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the settlers of Rhodesia informed Lord Cave's Commission through Sir 859 Charles Coghlan, that they wished it made perfectly plain to the Commission that in no circumstances would the Rhodesian people accept any liability for the debts of the British South African Company; and whether the reason for insisting upon the point was one of the principal factors in leading Lord Cave's Commission to recommend an expert valuation of land alienated by the company to itself?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREI am aware of the statement by Sir Charles Coghlan referred to in the first part of the question. As regards the second part, I can only refer the hon. Member to what is said on the subject in the Report of the Commission.