GOLD PROSPECTING (COMPENSATION). (Hansard, 11 July 1933)

§ 42. Mr. LUNN
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will state up to what date compensation was paid to the native farmers in the Kenya gold mining area for the area of trenches or excavations only and not for the ground covered by spoil thrown out of the trenches; what was the rate of compensation paid per square yard per annum; and what is the rate paid to-day both for the area of excavation and the area covered by spoil from excavations?

§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER
In the great majority of cases compensation for surface disturbance is settled between the native occupier and the prospector without Government intervention. If either 928 party is dissatisfied, however, an assessment is made by a Government officer assisted by a native assessor, and the appeal lies from such assessment to a district commissioner. Where an award by Government is required, certain rates have been adopted as the basis for assessment. I am arranging for a statement as to the rates to be circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT, but I may mention that in respect of planted land the compensation appears to be an initial payment at the rate of £7 5s. 3d. per acre, and, in addition, a recurrent payment at the rate of £9 13s. 6d. per acre per annum. The measurements include land covered by "spoil."

§ Mr. LUNN
Will the answer also state when the change came about?

§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER
I do not know what the change is. I think these are the rates of compensation which have regularly been paid, and I am bound to say that if anybody would offer me compensation on this scale I have a lot of land which I could put at his disposal.

§ Brigadier-General Sir HENRY CROFT
May I ask whether it is not possible to damage the white settlers land and to give them the same compensation?

§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER
I have already stated that it was an essential principle, readily accepted in Kenya, that the same scale of compensation should apply to whoever got it, but, as a matter of fact, I think that the native compensation works out higher.