§ Mr. PARKINSONasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what schemes for the development of native areas in Kenya have been put forward in connection with the Colonial Development Fund; the nature of the schemes, the districts concerned, the amount of cost in each case, the total amount of the schemes, and by whom they were originally prepared; whether such applications were sent in to the committee appointed to deal with the fund; and, if so, what was the response given?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThe following are the particulars desired:
1. In October, 1930, the Acting Governor of Kenya submitted an application prepared in the colony for assistance from the Colonial Development Fund for the establishment of a meat factory. The object of the scheme Was to afford an economic outlet for the surplus cattle of the Wakamba and the Masai, and thereby to remedy the present over stocking of the reserves. The total cost was estimated at £92,000, including the working capital of £62,000: of this amount £30,000 was sought from the fund as a free grant and £62,000 as a loan free of interest for 10 years. The application was submitted to the Colonial Development Advisory Committee, who recommended a free grant of £20,000 only, or, in the alternative, grants of interest, not exceeding £20,000 in all, upon the necessary capital sum if it could be provided from sources other than the fund. This offer was conveyed to the Kenya Government, but the Government, in view of the financial position., did not feel justified in accepting the liabilities involved.
2. In November, 1931, the Governor submitted an application, prepared by his advisers, for capital grants from the fund totalling £149,500 for road construction and improvement in the colony. Of this sum it was proposed to devote £80,000 to reads in native areas. After reference to the Colonial Development Advisory Committee, it was suggested to the Governor 406W that a revised programme should be drawn up on a less ambitious scale, fulfilling certain prescribed conditions.
3. The Colonial Development Advisory Committee were invited in November, 1931, to consider an application for assistance in financing a three-year programme of experimental work at the Livestock Research Institute at Naivasha. The prosecution of these researches is regarded as of first-rate importance in the interests of native development. The application, drawn up in the Colonial Office, was based upon the recommendations of a sub-committee of the Economic Advisory Council and was endorsed by the Colonial Government. The total cost of the three-year programme was estimated at £6,300, towards which a grant of £4,500 was sought from the Colonial Development Fund to pay the salaries and expenses of the research workers in charge of the institute. The Colonial Development Advisory Committee recommended that the grant should be made, and their recommendation has been approved by His Majesty's Government.