§ 32. Mr. Ammonasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has had brought to his notice the complaints as to the failure to administer fairly Clauses 13 and 14 of Part 3 of the regulations for the government and protection of the natives of the Gilbert Islands; and whether the safeguards as to the lease of lands to non-natives apply equally with regard to the disposal of the guano deposits?
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreI have recently received a letter on this subject with reference to the working of the guano deposits on Ocean Island. The Queen's Regulation No. 5 of 1893, to which I assume the hon. Member refers, was replaced by the Native Lands Ordinance, No. 16 of 1917. The working of the guano deposits on Ocean Island is governed by the Mining Ordinance, No. 4 of 1928, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.