HC Deb 09 June 1937 vol 324 cc1744-6
25. Mr. Paling

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the number of acres of land involved in the Chesham concession in Tanganyika; whether it was put up for auction to the highest bidder; and what is the rent per acre?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

Tanganyika (Southern Highlands) Estates, Limited, were granted a right of occupancy with effect from 1st January, 1937, for a period of 10 years over an area of approximately 110,500 acres at a rent of one cent per acre. This grant was conditional on the acceptance by the company of a certificate of occupancy for 99 years with effect from the same date in respect of part of the above area amounting to approximately 19,500 acres, under which certificate a rent of 10 cents an acre (revisable every 20 years) is payable. In addition, the company is under an obligation, with effect from 1st January, 1939, to bring under intensive development each year at least 6,000 acres out of the main area, and to accept certificates of occupancy in respect of such areas involving the payment of a rent of 10 cents an acre (revisable every 20 years). The grant of these rights of occupancy was not made subject to auction, having regard to the terms of Section 3 of Ordinance No. 5 of 1935, which empowers the Governor to grant a right of occupancy without auction in any special case (outside a township) in which he considers it desirable to do so.

Mr. Paling

Does not the amount of land as now stated by the Colonial Secretary differ from the amount he gave in his speech last week? Is there any special reason why the right of selling by public auction in the ordinary way should have been departed from in this case; and how does the rent compare with the rent paid for other land?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

I gave 16 square miles as the all-over area which they might eventually take up, but the immediately operative lease involves 19,500 acres according to later information I have. The reason why this was made a special case is that this land is very remote and there is practically nobody there. It is desirable in the interests of the whole country that it should be-developed, and it was considered that this was a very good way of doing it.

Mr. Paling

Are there not plenty of takers for this land if it is made known that the Government want to develop it? Could it not have been done without this double exploitation?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

I deny that there is any exploitation. I call it development—proper development. There are no other claimants to this land. We have been waiting a long time trying to get some more active development of south-west Tanganyika, and I think it is purely doctrinaire to object to making use of powers to try to get something done.

26. Mr. Paling

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the land granted to the Chesham Development Company is to be let to Europeans only, or can British-Indians or natives take it up?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

The choice of sublessees will be a matter for the company, but there is nothing in the title deeds granted by the Government prescribing that non-Europeans may not lease land from the company.

Mr. Palin)

That depends entirely on the company?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

Entirely.