HC Deb 23 November 1950 vol 481 c90W
Mr. Alport

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will recommend the Governor of Tanganyika to consider the repeal of the section of the Tanganyika Land Ordinance of 1926 which refers to the compulsory acquisition of non-African land in view of the general atmosphere of insecurity among the farming population which this creates.

Mr. J. Griffiths

The power of compulsory acquisition is vested in the Governor by the Land Acquisition Ordinance, which empowers him to recover any alienated land for any "public purpose" which, by definition include "for the use of the native inhabitants of the territory." It is this part of the definition of public purposes which has given rise to protests in certain quarters in Tanganyika, not the principle of acquisitionper se. I consider that this provision should be retained in the Ordinance, but the hon. Member may be assured that it will not be lightly used. Under the terms of the Ordinance compensation is, of course, payable by the Government for any land thus acquired, and the amount of compensation to be paid, in the event of a disagreement between the Government and the owner or lessee, is determined by the High Court.