HC Deb 06 July 1938 vol 338 cc364-5
40. Mr. Paling

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the cattle belonging to the Wakamba people, Kenya, are still being compulsorily sold, how many have been sold, what is the estimated number to be sold, what price per head is being paid, and what is the price per head in a normal market?

Mr. M. MacDonald

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The Government of Kenya consider that it will be necessary to reduce the number of cattle in this Reserve by one-third in order to combat the menace of soil erosion. This will involve the sale in due course of 100,000 head. According to my latest information, some 3,000 cattle have, so far, been sold at public auctions, at average prices ranging from 21s. to 25s. a head. I understand that the beasts brought in by the Wakamba for sale were of very poor quality, and that at present the local market prices are abnormally high.

Mr. Paling

Are these to be sold to-day or in the very near future? Does not the question of soil erosion arise largely from the fact that these people have been driven off their lands and crowded into less and less reserves, whereas other land has been maintained in utter disuse for European settlers; and is that not likely to lead to the kind of trouble we have had in Jamaica?

Mr. MacDonald

Provision is being made for added reserves for these people. Soil erosion arises largely from the fact that the land has been overstocked, and it is necessary that the numbers of cattle should be reduced.

Mr. Paling

Does not the overstocking result from the fact that the amount of land that they have now is less than they used to have; and if they had the amount of land that they really ought to have—and, after all, they are the people belonging to the country—would the question of soil erosion be as acute as it is at the present time?

Mr. Anstruther-Gray

Does not the overstocking arise from the fact that now they live in peace, whereas hitherto their cattle were constantly being raided by neighbouring tribes?

Mr. Paling

How long ago is that?