§ 16. Mr. CECIL WILSONasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the total amount of money paid annually by the natives of Southern Rhodesia to the missionary societies for the occupation of land; how many natives pay this rent; whether the payments made for the land are in the form of a rent-charge based upon the acreage and quality of the land or in the form of a head-tax 10 levied according to the number of natives on the land in question; and whether the Native Affairs Department makes any actuarial examination of the expenditure by the missionary societies of the moneys drawn from the native occupiers of land?
§ Mr. WILSONWill the right hon. Gentleman endeavour to obtain it?
§ Mr. AMERYSouthern Rhodesia is a self-governing Colony, and though the High Commissioner has the right to a certain supervision as regards native affairs, that can only be exercised in a case of legitimate and serious grievance on the part of the natives. If the hon. Member will give me information which will convey a prima facie case of any serious grievance in this matter, I will communicate with the High Commissioner.