Lieutenant-Colonel HERBERTasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, whether he is aware that there 596W are in British East Africa tracts of land not at present under cultivation which might profitably be given to discharged soldiers; and, if so, what action he proposes to take in the matter?
§ Lieutenant-Colonel AMERYA scheme of soldier settlement in British East Africa has been considered for some time by a local commission of inquiry, whose report is understood to be on the way home. On the receipt of the report, and the Governor's views on it, the matter will receive the most careful consideration, and a public statement will be made as soon as possible. I ought to say, however, that the information already available indicates the probability of an insufficiency of native labour to meet the requirements of a very large immediate influx of settlers, and affords no justification for the idea that East Africa, in present circumstances, offers reasonable prospects of success to men without substantial capital.