§ 11. Sir R. HAMILTONasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has yet received a report upon the removal of the Wakamba with their cattle from the Yatta plains in Kenya?
§ Mr. AMERYYes, Sir, orders to the Wakamba to remove their cattle from the Yatta Plains to their own Reserve were issued in the summer of 1924. The reasons were that the grazing grounds in the Reserve had had three years' rest, that their adequacy could not be judged without trial, that the children in the Reserve were suffering in physique from the lack of milk and meat, and that the Wakamba were apparently extending the concession of grazing on the Yatta Plains into an attempt at permanent settlement. The move was carefully watched by district officers and, when it appeared that the grazing in the Reserve was actually not adequate, the herds were allowed to return to the Yatta Plains. I am informed that the reports of mortality among the herds are greatly exaggerated, at all events so far as deaths were due to the move, and that the mortality during the following months was rather attributable to epidemics which were prevalent at that time. The new Governor is giving close consideration to the problem of the Wakamba cattle, which, until an economic use can be found for them, certainly appear to have increased beyond the capacity of the Reserve.
§ Sir R. HAMILTONCan the right hon. Gentleman say what were the numbers of cattle that died owing to their being returned to the infected area, and whether any compensation was awarded?
§ Mr. AMERYNo, Sir. A figure of 25,000 was given, and the only information, officially, I have had is that that figure is greatly exaggerated. In any case, it was due not so much to the removal of the animals as to the epidemics prevalent there immediately afterwards.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODAre we to understand from the answer that the Government think that Wakamba ought not to have cattle?
§ Mr. AMERYNot at all. They are fully entitled to have all the cattle that their reserves will hold, and a special concession was made enabling them to bring their cattle out of the reserves into another reserve to graze.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODCannot the reserves be increased?
Lieut.-Commander WILLIAMSCan the right hon. Gentleman give us an assurance that there will be no renewal of the harsh order of 1924?