§ 57. Mr. CECIL WILSONasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, seeing that the total amount of the proportion of the head tax paid by the natives of Southern Rhodesia, which is transferred to the missionary societies for land occupation in the vicinity of missions, reaches a considerable sum, he is prepared to make a recommendation to the Rhodesian Government that, subject to the consent of the missionary societies, these proceeds should be placed in .a public trust fund, to be administered for the benefit of the native inhabitants of Southern Rhodesia?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am answering this question, as it should have been addressed to the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs. I presume that the hon. Member refers to the rents payable to missions by natives in occupation of lands held by missions outside the native reserves. I understand that such rents, when charged, are used for mission purposes. The matter is not one in which it would be appropriate for His Majesty's Government to intervene, having regard to the self-governing status of Southern Rhodesia.