HC Deb 23 June 1924 vol 175 cc70-1W
Sir W. de FRECE

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the lapse of time since the original announcement, he can now give the names of the Commissions to visit East and West Africa, their terms of reference, and the date and plans for their visits?

Mr. THOMAS

I am appointing a Committee to inquire into and report on various matters connected with East Africa, and also a small Commission, drawn from the members of the Committee, which will visit East Africa in order to inquire into certain questions locally. I will before long appoint a separate Committee to inquire into land questions in West and East Africa, but, apart from that, I do not propose present action as regards West Africa. Land questions will therefore not come before the East African Committee, except so far as their connection with other questions makes it essential. Native education will be similarly excluded, in view of the Standing Committee on Native Education in Tropical Africa set up by my predecessor. Further, while co-ordination of policy among the various Governments in East Africa will be an important subject of inquiry, I do not propose that the actual amalgamation of the territories or their federation under one head should be included. The terms of reference to the East African Commission which is to visit the territories will be decided when the main Committee, after a preliminary survey, has advised what subjects can most properly be dealt with on the spot, but I shall not necessarily limit the terms of reference to those subjects.

The terms of reference to the East African Committee will be as follows:

  1. (a) To consider and report on the measures to be taken to accelerate the general economic development of the British East African Dependencies and the means of securing closer co-ordination of policy on 71 such important matters as transportation, cotton growing, and the control of human, animal and plant diseases.
  2. (b) The steps necessary to ameliorate the social condition of the natives of East Africa, including improvement of health and economic development.
  3. (c) The economic relation between natives and non-natives with special reference to labour contracts, care of labourers, certificates of identification, employment of women and children.
  4. (d)The taxation of natives and the provision for services directed to their moral and material improvement.

I am glad to say that I have already received many acceptances of the invitation which I have given to various gentlemen to assist me by serving on the Committee, but I prefer to wait until the list is complete before announcing any names.

Meantime, I would say that the Committee will be thoroughly representative of all parties and interests. I am happy to state that Lord Southborough has consented to be the Chair man.

It will be clear front the foregoing that it is not yet possible to give any indication as to the date of the Commission's visit to East Africa.