§ Mr. W. Fletcherasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what arrangements will be made to ensure that the interests of railway users in Northern Rhodesia are safeguarded now that the Rhodesian railways are being acquired by the Government of Rhodesia, and whether any financial guarantee it connection with the purchase and maintenance of the railway have been given to the Government of Southern Rhodesia by the Government of Northern Rhodesia.
Mr. Creech JonesThese railways have been acquired by the Southern Rhodesia Government which has agreed to introduce at the earliest possible date legislation vesting all the assets acquired in a182W statutory body, which will then become the legal owner of the railways and responsible for their operation. The members of that body would be appointed by, and in matters of major policy would he subject to the direction of, a higher authority on which the Governments of Southern Rhodesia. Northern Rhodesia and the Bechuanaland Protectorate would be represented. The financial commitments of the statutory body would be guaranteed by the three Governments in the proportions of 75 per cent., 20 per cent. and 5 per cent. respectively