HC Deb 29 June 1914 vol 64 cc46-7W
Viscount DALRYMPLE

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will request the administrative department of the British South Africa Company to furnish him with the complete records of the compulsory sequestrations of the estate of Peter Donald M'Guffie, and the partnership estate of P. D. and Frederick M'Guffie, trading as M'Guffie Brothers, farmers, Insiza, Southern Rhodesia?

Mr. HARCOURT

A petition was received from Mr. M'Guffie, through the High Commissioner for South Africa, in 1910, from which it appears that a judgment was given against him in the High Court of North-Western Rhodesia, in consequence of which he was subsequently sequestrated by an Order of the High Court of Southern Rhodesia. Mr. M'Guffie petitioned to be allowed to plead his cause before the Privy Council. A considerable amount of correspondence followed, and ultimately in 1912, his application for special leave to appeal was heard and rejected by the Privy Council. The matter appears to be a purely legal one, in which the Secretary of State has no power to interfere.