§ Sir R. THOMASasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies approximately what countries under the jurisdiction of his Department have received any kind of systematic survey; in what countries is mapping now proceeding; and to what extent is the method of photography from aeroplanes employed?
§ Mr. AMERYI am not sure what the hon. Member means by "systematic survey," but full survey establishments carrying out trigonometrical, topographical and cadastral surveys exist in Palestine and in the following Colonies and Protectorates:
In West Africa:
- Nigeria.
- The Gold Coast.
- Sierra Leone (topographical and cadastral only).
In East Africa:
- Uganda.
- Zanzibar (topographical and cadastral only).
47 - Ceylon.
- The Straits Settlements.
- The Federated Malay States.
- Hong Kong.
- Cyprus.
- Fiji.
- British Honduras.
Departments carrying out cadastral work exist in Kenya, Northern Rhodesia and Trinidad. In the last case the trigonometrical and topographical work has been completed by a survey party of the Royal Engineers. In Northern Rhodesia plans for a trigonometrical survey are under consideration. In most other territories, mapping, in the sense of local cadastral maps, is general.
There are only a few Colonies and Protectorates, namely, Ceylon, the Straits Settlements, Gold Coast, Nigeria and Uganda which have facilities for the local production of topographical maps. In other cases the reproduction is carried out in this country or by a neighbouring administration. As regards the last part of the question, aerial survey work is in progress in Northern Rhodesia and some has been carried out in British Guiana. The hon. Member will find further information on this subject generally in the Annual Reports of the Colonial Survey Committee. The 1927 Report (Colonial Reports—Annual, 1383) contains a memorandum on air survey prepared for the information of Colonial Survey Departments.