HC Deb 13 June 1921 vol 143 cc74-5W
Mr. SPOOR

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the British South Africa Company has sold for cash 4,500,000 acres of land in Southern Rhodesia; and whether under the Royal Charter he is entitled to ask for information as to the total amount realised by the sales?

Mr. WOOD

The answer to both parts of the question is in the affirmative. The information has, of course, already been supplied in connection with the proceedings of Lord Cave's Commission.

Mr. SPOOR

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the British South Africa Company had sold land, to the date of 31st March, 1918, totalling 2,298,000 acres, for which no payment has yet been received; and whether the title to these lands will revert to the Crown, or whether it is proposed to take any steps to secure payment for these lands in order to reduce the liability of Lord Cave's award?

Mr. WOOD

I can only refer to my reply to a similar question by the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Colonel Wedgwood) on the 25th May. There is no question of the title to lands held on grants from the company reverting to the Crown.

Mr. SPOOR

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the first intimation of the chartered company's valuation of Rhodesian land is to be found in Sir Starr Jameson's Victoria agreement of 1893, wherein the company suggested repurchasing the grants made to the invaders of Matabeleland at £3 per morgen; whether at this date, or soon afterwards, alienation of land, either to the company or to others, took place for considerations other than cash of some of the best lands of Rhodesia; and whether the company's estimated value of the land grants made in 1893 will be taken into consideration in fixing the deductions to be made from the Cave award?

Mr. WOOD

The purpose of the Clause in the Victoria agreement referred to would seem to have been to enable the company to repurchase farms in the event of minerals being discovered, and it does not appear to me that it affords any indication of the value of the land in Southern Rhodesia in 1893. As regards the general question of accounting for the lands alienated by the company for considerations other than cash, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. and gallant Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Colonel Wedgwood) on 25th May.