Mr. KINGasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Mahomedan praying ground at Lagos, which was occupied by the Mahomedan community since 1875, when part of it was acquired by the community at auction, has been taken away from the Mahomedans without compensation; whether the praying ground allotted them in place at a low rent is only leased for ten years; whether this action was approved by the Colonial Office; and whether he will refer the whole matter to the Governor for report and reconside ration?
Mr. HARCOURTI have already received a full report from the Governor on this subject. The Mahomedans in question are only a small section of the Mussulman Community at Lagos. The title under which they held the land was extremely doubtful, and they expressed themselves quite satisfied with a new piece of land which was granted them in exchange on leasehold terms for ten years at the nominal rent of one shilling a year. 2025W They have since represented that they would prefer a Crown grant of the land, as they feared that they had no security of tenure under the lease. It has been explained to them that the system of Crown grants has been discontinued, and they have been given a formal undertaking from the Government that in no case will they be required to give up the land without being assigned another site. As far as I am aware, they are satisfied with this arrangement.