§ 33. Mr. Ammonasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will order an impartial investigation into the Ocean Island phosphate concession, whereby the natives were deprived of a large property worth millions of pounds 910 for a rental of £50 per annum for six years?
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreThe concession to which the hon. Member presumably refers was granted in 1901. Its provisions have long since been revised; and therefore I can see no sufficient ground for an inquiry. If the hon. Member will refer to the answer given on 7th July last to the hon. Member for the Isle of Ely (Mr. de Rothschild), he will see that considerable sums for the benefit of the natives are now being paid in return for the phosphate concession.
§ Mr. AmmonIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that the conditions were amended in 1928, and does he seek to justify amendment for the future as justice to those who have been wronged in preceding years?
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreThere was a revision in 1928, another in 1933–34 and another in 1935. I clearly cannot go into what happened in 1901.