Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTasked what are the mineral rights referred to in Section 43 of the Northern Rhodesia Order in Council, 1911; how these rights have been acquired by the company and from whom they were acquired; and whether His Majesty's Government were satisfied as to the validity of the company's title to such rights before authorising their retention?
Mr. HARCOURTThe right of searching and mining for and disposing of all minerals in Northern Rhodesia is vested in the British South Africa Company. These rights rest ultimately on concessions granted by native chiefs and approved by His Majesty's Government, and are regulated by a Proclamtaion of the High Commissioner passed in 1911. Certain territory occupied by the Barotse is specially reserved from prospecting, reference to which is made in Section 40 of the Order in Council.