§ LORD LLOYDasked His Majesty's Government whether they have accepted any financial assistance from the Government of the Union of South Africa in aid of the administration or development of any of the South African Protectorates; if so, whether His Majesty's Government will state for what Protectorates these, monies have been accepted, in what years, and what are the amounts so accepted.
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§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (THE EARL OF PLYMOUTH)In the course of discussions in May last between the then Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs and General Hertzog it was agreed that endeavours should be made to establish closer co-operation between His Majesty's Government in the Union and the Administrations of the High Commission Territories in matters affecting the interests of the Territories. In pursuance of this aim the Union Government recently offered to contribute 50 per cent. of the total cost of certain schemes for combating soil erosion and for developing water supplies which were recommended by Sir Alan Pim in his Reports on these Territories, and for these purposes to make provision in the Union Estimates for 1936–37 as follows:740WA
His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom felt that the co-operation which the Union Government thus most generously offered would be productive of considerable benefit to the three Territories, and accepted the offer to make the provision referred to above. A full statement on the subject was thereupon made to the local native authorities in the Territories, and the matter is now under discussion with them.
£ Basutoland: anti-erosion work. 16,000 Bechuanaland Protectorate: (1) wells and dams 12,500 (2) river clearing operations. 4,000 Swaziland: dams 2,500 £35,000 House adjourned at twenty minutes before eight o'clock.