§ Captain W. BENNasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether lands in Rhodesia, in the vicinity of areas alienated by the British South Africa Company to itself, have obtained on the market as much as 80s. per acre; whether the amount offered by the British South 617W Africa Company in return for lands alienated to itself is less than 2s. per acre; and whether His Majesty's Government proposes to adhere to the recommendations of Lord Cave's Commission that such lands should be valued before the deductions were made?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI cannot say whether the figure given in the first part of the question is correct, but it does not appear to have any bearing on the value of the land to be taken in estimating the deductions. This must be the value as at the date of the first definite act of appropriation of the land in question to the Company's purposes. The Company's valuation varies from 1s. 6d. to 30s. an acre, averaging rather under 2s. His Majesty's Government adhere to the view that the land must be valued.
§ Captain W. BENNasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that in 1907 the late Mr. Bouchier Hawkesley, acting as the attorney for the British South Africa Company, made the announcement in Buluwayo that no land in Rhodesia would be sold for less than 3s. per morgen; and whether the total land alienated by the company for considerations other than cash and to itself exceeds 10,000,000 morgen, and is of a total value upon the company's lowest basis exceeding £1,500,000?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLAs far as I am aware it was proposed by the company, in 1907, to reduce the minimum price of land to 1s. 6d. per morgen. I do not think that the area exceeds 10,000,000 morgen, nor do I know any authority for a valuation of £1,500,000.