43. Brigadier-General BROWNasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies why the Home Government have refused to allow Kenya to have a defence force; and what is the reason that they have disallowed a sum of £9,000 for the defence force which was duly passed by the Legislative Assembly in their recent budget?
§ Dr. SHIELSThe hon. and gallant Member appears to be under a misapprehension. The Kenya Defence Force has not been abolished. On the draft Kenya Estimates for 1930, as first submitted to the Legislative Council, larger provision than that approved for 1929 was made for the Force, but in Select Committee a further sum of £9,000 was added mainly to provide a capitation grant. My Noble Friend took the view that the provision made in the draft Estimates should suffice, and he therefore asked that the figure originally proposed to the Council should be restored.
§ Mr. MARLEYHow does this figure compare with the amount spent on native education in Kenya?
§ Dr. SHIELSI have not the exact figures, but I think this amount bears only a small relation to the amount spent on education.
Lieut.-Colonel Sir G. DALRYMPLEWHITEIf the white settlers themselves consider it necessary to have a 390 defence force for the protection of their wives and children on farms in distant parts, is it for the Government at home to veto their wishes?
§ Dr. SHIELSI should like to point out that what happened was that my Noble Friend considered that this £9,000 might be more profitably spent in other directions.