HC Deb 20 July 1925 vol 186 cc1801-3
10. Sir W. de FRECE

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if, in view of the extensive railway development work in Kenya, Uganda, Tanganyika and Nyasaland, he will state whether it is the intention of the Colonial Office to carry on all these works by administration without calling for public tenders from approved contractors?

Mr. ORMSBY-GORE

My right hon. Friend does not think it necessary to lay down any rule on the subject. Where he is satisfied that efficient and economical construction is possible under the supervision of a railway administration, there-will be no need, in his view, for placing construction contracts.

11. Sir W. de FRECE

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether it is the intention of the Colonial Office to call for public tenders for the Tabora-Shinyanga branch railway?

Mr. ORMSBY-GORE

I presume that my hon. Friend refers to the Kahama-Shinyanga section, with regard to which I have not yet received the Governor's recommendation. The section from Tabora to Kahama is being carried out by local contract, but the work is practically confined to the laying of rails on earthworks already completed.

Sir W. de FRECE

What will be the nature of the construction, and will this work be put out to public tender?

Mr. ORMSBY-GORE

I think the answer I gave to the last question is really the answer to this supplementary question. Where you have a construction staff, and a constructional engineer in a colony not wanted for other duties, he can, experience shows, carry out local extensions more economically than referring the whole matter to public tender here. But in any big construction scheme, the balance of advantage or disadvantage of the two alternative methods is always taken into consideration.

12. Mr. HURST

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, if, in view of the shortage of rolling stock on the Uganda railway system in East Africa, and the consequent menace to the growers of cotton and maize caused by the delays in connection with the Uasin Gishu, Kitale, Solai, Tana-River-Nyeri extensions, he will recommend the borrowing of some rolling stock from the Natal or Cape Government Railways pending deliveries of new rolling stock?

Mr. ORMSBY-GORE

The limiting factor in the provision of additional rolling stock is the capacity of the workshops in Nairobi for assembling the vehicles. I am advised that, owing to the different gauge, it would tax the workshops more to adopt South African tracks than to assemble new ones.

13. Mr. HURST

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the amount of rolling stock for the Uganda railway system now on order; the date when it was ordered; and the extent of the deliveries within the last two years?

Mr. ORMSBY-GORE

Orders were placed for 250 wagons on 31st March, for 50 on 4th April, and for 50 on 3rd June. All these will be shipped before 30th September, and there are no other outstanding orders. 445 wagons have been shipped in the last two years, all in 1924.