§ 15. Sir ROBERT HAMILTONasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether representations have been received from any non-official body in Kenya against the proposed removal of the Voi Taveta Railway; and if the proposed removal of the line from Kenya for the purpose of improving an existing line in the mandated territory of Tanganyika has the approval of the Kenya Government?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREThe Acting Governor of Kenya has recently telegraphed representations from the Associated Chambers of Commerce in Kenya against the removal of the Voi Taveta Railway. The Governor of Kenya bad previously asked that definite steps should not be taken in the matter pending further discussion, but, as I stated in my reply to the hon. Member's question of the 27th March, the decision arrived at has been taken after long and careful consideration and the Secretary of State has informed the Governor that it cannot be reconsidered. I may explain that this line is not the property of the Kenya Government but of the War Office, and that its reconditioning was estimated to cost half a million, with a loss of £5,000 to £6,000 a year on its working.
§ Sir R. HAMILTONAre we to understand that the decision was taken without consulting the Government of Kenya?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREReports were received from Kenya and from an inspector, and the matter was very fully discussed for many weeks, and in the interests of the Tanganyika Territory, as a mandated country, we had no option but to take up this extremely costly and military railway.