Captain A. EVANSasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the existing uncertainty, the Departmental Committee to be set up to consider constructional work in Africa will report on the question as to the most economical method of railway construction; and whether he will 1888W consider delaying any decision as to carrying out work departmentally until such Committee has reported?
§ Mr. GOULDasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Committee to be set up by the Colonial Office will not only report on the question of private enterprise, but also on the most economical methods of providing harbour and railway facilities, before any such work is undertaken departmentally?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREThe Committee will no doubt consider the question of Departmental as opposed to other methods of construction of railways and such subsidiary works as harbour works. But individual schemes will not come before them, and I do not think it is necessary to delay any scheme in the expectation which can hardly be entertained that the Committee will advise that Departmental construction cannot in any circumstances be economical. It would be most undesirable to hold up any schemes of development matured or maturing in view of the desirability of getting early orders for material from this country to relieve unemployment.
§ Mr. GOULDasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, before any work is undertaken departmentally, he will arrange that the Crown agents or their consulting engineers shall submit detailed estimates as to the cost of the work to be undertaken?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREWhen any important work has to be carried out by a Colonial Government estimates are always prepared, by the Government concerned, by the Crown Agents for the Colonies or by consulting engineers according to the circumstances of each case.