§ 17. Mr. BENSONasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to a memorial addressed to him, which has been published in the annual report of the North 2110 Charterland Exploration Company (1910), Limited, in which the signatories express their belief that when the directors of the company acquiesced in the agreement of 1926 they were not fully cognisant of the position, and urge that the Crown ought therefore to make reasonable compensation to the company for the land, taken under the Order in Council of 1928, for native reserves; whether the company's representatives were in a position to acquaint themselves fully with the position at the time; and whether he will refuse to grant public money for the private losses of this company?
Mr. J. H. THOMASI have received the memorial which expresses views substantially at variance with the findings of Lord. Maugham who inquired into this case. The answer to the last part of the question is in the affirmative.