HC Deb 24 May 1954 vol 528 cc24-9
35. Mr. Alport

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement with regard to his recent visit to Nyasaland.

The Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr. Oliver Lyttelton)

With permission, I will make a statement after Questions.

At the end of Questions—

Mr. Lyttelton

With permission, I will now answer Question No. 35.

Yes, Sir. I visited Nyasaland from the 1st to the 8th May and although, owing to an unfortunate accident, I was not able to meet so many people or to see as much of the country as I had hoped, I was able to hold discussions with representative groups of the three main communities.

During these discussions various representations were made to me with regard to changes in the Constitution, and during the next few months I intend to consider these further in consultation with the Governor. I hope that by the end of the year the Governor will be in a position to put forward definite proposals, which I have agreed should include some provision for an increase in African representation in the Legislative Council, for the consideration of Her Majesty's Government.

Next I devoted particular attention to land problems in the Southern Province and held discussions with the representatives of the estate owners and with leaders of African opinion. About 4 per cent. of the land area of Nyasaland, or approximately 887,000 acres, remains in private ownership. Apart from land under natural forest or unsuitable for economic development, this land falls into three categories: first, land already developed under economic crops; second, land occupied by African tenants; third, unoccupied land capable of development but not yet developed.

The first category presents no problem. Indeed, agricultural development on estates has been the foundation of the economic progress and the wealth of the Territory, and will continue to play an essential part. The existence of the third category tends to be a source of grievance in a heavily populated area such as the Southern Province of Nyasaland. But the main problem is presented by the second category.

The rights and obligations of African tenants on private estates are laid down by law. Every tenant is entitled to a site for his dwelling and to his plot of cultivable land, and he is required either to pay rent in cash or to work instead. This system of tenantry, known as the Tangata system, has given rise to a great deal of discontent and has proved difficult to operate, especially in cases where relations between tenants and landlords have not been good. The main difficulties arise on some of the larger estates: on the small estates there is generally no problem at all.

I am satisfied that the Tangata system, particularly on the large estates, has outlived its usefulness and should be brought to an end. The Governor is therefore examining proposals to give effect to this intention. In particular, he is negotiating with the owners of some of the larger estates with a view to acquiring certain land which is closely occupied by African tenants.

He will also seek to secure that any undeveloped and unoccupied lands are either put to use within a reasonable period or, if they are suitable for the settlement of Africans, are acquired by Government. In certain areas he may be able to arrange, in co-operation and agreement with owners and tenants, for small parcels of land occupied by a few tenants but otherwise suitable for development, to be freed for development by moving the tenants to neighbouring land acquired by the Government.

In the light of my discussions with representatives of the estate owners, I am hopeful that I can count on their cooperation in implementing this policy. It is aimed at removing a potential source of friction between Europeans and Africans in Nyasaland which, so long as it exists, must be an obstacle to the creation of that good will between the communities which is vital for the future of them all.

Mr. Alport

As many of the problems with regard to land in Nyasaland are similar to those which exist in East Africa, will my right hon. Friend consider sending out a commission to inquire into African land tenure in Nyasaland with a view to bringing in certain reforms which might be of value in ensuring the proper development of land? Will he at the same time say whether he intends to take any action to prevent the seepage of population into Southern Nyasaland from over the Portuguese East Africa frontier?

Mr. Lyttelton

My reply to the second part of my hon. Friend's supplementary question is that I am examining the subject. To reply to the first part, I think we had better await the Report of the Royal Commission on East Africa about these matters before committing ourselves to further action.

Mr. J. Johnson

While I thank the right hon. Gentleman for his welcome statement, because I think he is as well aware as I am that it is only measures like these which will dispel the suspicions which still linger in Nyasaland about federation, might I ask him, first, whether he has thought of taxing land values in Nyasaland; and, second, what the Government are doing about higher education in Nyasaland? There are only two secondary schools and about 150 pupils, and at the moment, there are no sixth forms by means of which Nyasalanders can go on to higher education, particularly at the new university at Salisbury in Central Africa.

Mr. Lyttelton

My right hon. Friend gave an answer on 5th May which set out the measures taken by the Government to acquire land. I am not prepared to make a statement about educational matters at this stage.

Mr. Stokes

Might I press the right hon. Gentleman on the point raised by my hon. Friend the Member for Rugby (Mr. J. Johnson)? Will the Secretary of State consider bringing to the notice of the Governors of all these Territories—not only Nyasaland, but the others as well—the advisability of introducing a Measure based on the taxation of land values, which really would get them out of their difficulties? That really is a fact. The appalling thing is the ignorance on the Government benches.

Mr. Lyttelton

The real obstacle to my recommending that to the Governors is that I should myself have to be satisfied, which I am not, that the measures recommended by the right hon. Gentleman are appropriate.

Mr. Stokes

I should be glad to instruct the right hon. Gentleman.

Mr. Alport

Is the Governor, in the investigation which he is undertaking for a plan for the purchase and redevelopment of these lands at present in European ownership, trying to design a pattern of development so that the development will be properly controlled by the Government to ensure the best use of the land when it is taken over?

Mr. Lyttelton

Yes, Sir. I have been very carefully into the matter of the use to which the Government put the acquired land. I am satisfied that it is on the right lines and will form a good pattern for the future.

Mr. Fenner Brockway

While welcoming the right hon. Gentleman's statement about ending the serf system of land-holding in Nyasaland, may I ask him whether he will consider extending this policy to Kenya? In the first part of his statement he said that, in principle, he had accepted increased African representation in the Legislative Council. Can he indicate to the House what that increase will be?

Mr. Lyttelton

No, Sir. Until these proposals can be looked at in their entirety, I am not willing to give any indication. With regard to the first part of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question, as I have already said, we must await the Report of the Royal Commission. In any case, I do not think that the analogy is very apposite.

Mr. Emrys Hughes

Do I understand the right hon. Gentleman to say that he is now going to nationalise the land in Nyasaland? How far is he going in this direction? Is he going to nationalise land—as the Russians did—in order to stop Communism?

Mr. Lyttelton

If the hon. Gentleman regards as nationalisation the acquisition of—

Mr. Emrys Hughes

Big estates?

Mr. Lyttelton

No, Sir, a very small proportion of the total land in Nyasaland; the hon. Gentleman is welcome to any conclusion that he likes to draw. It has nothing to do with nationalisation. The stage which we have now reached is the acquisition, by negotiation and agreement, by the Government of about 200,000 acres.

Mr. Sorensen

To what extent in his consultations has the right hon. Gentleman consulted indigenous representatives and organisations in the area on the land question? I understand that the Governor is making further inquiries into this matter. If so, when is he likely to make a report?

Mr. Lyttelton

I said in my statement that we hoped to get recommendations before the end of the year. The Governor is now on leave. I consulted the representatives of all three communities.

Mr. Hector Hughes

In reply to the first supplementary question by the hon. Member for Colchester (Mr. Alport) about the sending out of a commission of inquiry, the Minister said that he must await the report of the Royal Commission. Is it not a fact that the good suggestion made by the hon. Member about a commission of inquiry is not coincidental with the terms of reference of the Royal Commission, and that such a commission of inquiry would serve a useful purpose if it set out at once?

Mr. Lyttelton

I do not think so, at this stage. I do not want the whole of the Colonial Territories to be peppered with commissions of inquiry.