§ 17. Sir S. HENNasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the acreages given in the Report of the East Africa Commission by the A. L. Bruce Estates, Limited, and the British Central Africa Company, in Nyasaland, are incorrect; is he able to state what acreage of the A. L. Bruce Estates, Limited, is developed; and whether, in fact, rent is charged by 1990 the company to natives resident on the estates?
§ Mr. AMERYI regret that the figures for the acreages of these estates, as given to the Commission, appear to have been interchanged. I am now informed that the actual acreage of the A. L. Bruce Estates, Limited, is 169,326, of which 162,000 is in a single block. On this estate, in addition to native gardens, there are 31 plantations in cultivation of not less than 200 acres each. The company does not, in fact, charge rent, resident natives being only expected to put in two months' work a year at the standard rate of wages.