57. Mr. Creech Jonesasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the statement made in this House by the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies on 25th July, 1923, that the land in North-Eastern Rhodesia was regarded as native land was brought to the notice of the recent Royal Commission; whether copies of the treaties with the native tribes were furnished to the Royal Commission; and which Clauses in those treaties support the Commission's report that un-alienated land in North-Eastern Rhodesia is Crown land or the map appended to their report excluding it from native land?
Mr. M. MacDonaldNeither the statement by the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies on 25th July, 1923, nor the treaties with native tribes were, I understand, brought specifically to the Royal Commission's notice, but the Commission had full opportunity of informing itself in Northern Rhodesia upon the position with regard to land. As regards the third part of the question, the treaties referred to by the hon. Member do not affect the ownership of the land: the Crown's title to the land in North-Eastern Rhodesia rests upon the Northern Rhodesia (Crown Lands and Native Reserves) Order in Council, 1928.
Mr. Creech JonesMay I have an assurance that the land in question is in exactly the same position as it was when Mr. Ormsby-Gore stated that this was native land? In view of the very grave statement in paragraph 87 of the report as to native rights in land, will the right hon. Gentleman tell me that that has not been altered?
Mr. MacDonaldThe position is the same, except in so far as it may have been altered by the Order in Council, which was made five years after the Under-Secretary of State made that statement—in 1928.
§ 59. Mr. Palingasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress has been made in carrying out the recommendations made in the report of the Commission appointed to inquire into the financial and economic position of Northern Rhodesia?
Mr. MacDonaldIt is difficult to deal adequately with this comprehensive question in the space of a Parliamentary Answer. I would invite attention to the answer to a similar question which I circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT on 18th February and which indicated that a comprehensive programme for the provision of social and development services, on the lines recommended by the Financial Commission, has been drawn up. The carrying out of this programme, which will entail an expenditure of more than £1,000,000 over the next five years, has already begun. If the hon. Member has in mind any particular part of the recommendations of the Commission and will let we know, I will furnish him with a statement of the progress made.
§ Mr. PalingCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether any special effort has been made to deal with that part of the report which says that there are no medical services whatever for at least half the population?
Mr. MacDonaldThe expansion of health services is one of the items in this programme of general development.