§ Mr. SPOORasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is 62W aware that on or about 27th December last the natives in the vicinity of Darwen, Southern Rhodesia, were ordered by the officials of the Chartered Company to come into Darwen and dance for joy in commemoration of the Armistice, that the natives did come in, and that the company's officials at the conclusion of the dance told the natives that they would either have to remove from their ancestral lands and surrender them to the company or pay, in addition to administrative tax, £l per head for continuing to live on their lands; and whether the Chartered Company will be requested to instruct an official to inform the natives that this action is strongly deprecated by His Majesty's Government?
§ Lieut.-Colonel AMERYNo, Sir, but 1 will inquire as to the facts.