§ 12. Colonel WEDGWOODasked the Secretary of State for the Colones concerning the so-called Northcote boundary of the Native reserve in the South Nyeri district of Kenya, whether he is aware that this Northcote boundary cuts off from the reserve a largo area claimed by the natives; whether the natives have pressed their claim to this area; why was this boundary gazetted in 1926 without first ascertaining the views of the natives concerned; and will this grievance be redressed as one result of the Hilton Young Report?
§ Mr. AMERYThe boundary in question has already been re-considered, as it was found that certain of the natives had been for some years accustomed to graze their stock to the south of it, and had patches of cultivation along the Tana river. According to the latest information which I have received from Kenya, it is proposed to adopt two rivers known as the Izima and the Rungu, with a line joining their sources, as the South-East boundary of the Reserve, thus adding an area of 49 square miles to the Reserve, as gazetted in 1926. I gather that the rest of the area beyond this new line which was included in the 1379 Nyeri Reserve when the boundaries were published for criticism in October, 1925, is not occupied and is not required for the natives of that Reserve; but instructions have been given that no part of that area should be alienated without the prior approval of the Secretary of State.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODI could not follow the details of the reply. Could not the question of the final alienation of this so-called native land be postponed until the advent of the new High Commissioner, in view of the recommendations of the Hilton Young Report that there should be certain areas of land to be reserved for future alienation to natives as apart from future alienation to whites?
§ Mr. AMERYI think that the instructions that nothing is to be alienated without the consent of the State cover whatever constitutional arrangements are completed subsequently.