§ 14. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will state what is the anticipated cost of the Gilgil-Thompson's Falls branch railway in Kenya Colony; whether any portion of the cost of construction will be paid by the East African Lands and Development Company, through whose property the railway will be built almost entirely; and if he is aware that the Magadi Company paid the capital cost of the Magadi railway in the same Crown Colony in order to develop its own property?
§ Mr. AMERYThe estimated cost of construction of the line to Thomson's 7 Falls is £265,000. The line will be built by and at the cost of the Kenya and Uganda Railway Administration, and it is not proposed that the East African Lands and Development Company, or any other land owners whose property may be benefited by the line, should be asked to bear any part of the capital cost. The line to Lake Magadi was constructed by the Magadi Soda Company at their own cost as part of the terms of their lease, and remains the property of the company so long as the lease continues in force.
§ 15. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he has noted the statement of the chief engineer of the Kenya and Uganda railway that at no time is it anticipated that the Gilgil-Thompson's Falls branch railway, to be built through the property of the East Africa Lands and Development Company, will pay interest and sinking fund on the capital expenditure; and what form of return is expected for the cost of building this railway?
§ Mr. AMERYI am aware that according to the latest estimates this branch is not expected for many years to earn enough to meet all charges on the branch. It is a development line which will open up country which is already reaching a productive stage and in which, owing to the nature of the soil, roads are impassable except in dry weather. In doing so it will contribute to the general revenue of the country, as well as to that of the main line.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYWill the right hon. Gentleman give instructions to re-open this matter, and see whether something cannot be got from this European land company, which will be benefited so very greatly by this line?
§ Mr. AMERYNo, Sir; I imagine that must have been carefully considered by that Government at the time.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYBut is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there have been several cases like this where undoubtedly some contribution could have been obtained if it were not that that Government is so much under the thumb of the European settlers that these opportunities are allowed to slip?