KENYA GOLDFIELD

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 35, 11 February 1933, Page 11

KENYA GOLDFIELD

INTERESTS OF NATIVES

STATEMENT BY MINISTER

PROTECTION ASSURED

(British Official Wireless.)

BUGBY, 9th February.

The development of tho Kenya goldfield, with special reference to the protection of the interests of the natives, was debated in both the House of Lords and the- House of Commons last night and Government statements of a reassuring character were made. Tho Colonial Secretary, Sir Philip CunliffeLister, in the House of Commons gave a detailed reply to the points raised. He claimed that the pledges :to the natives were being kept both in letter ana spirit and that there had been no breach of the Native Land Ordinance of 1930. for which the Labour Government was responsible in association with the Government of Kenya. ■. ■ . ■

He rejected the suggestion that, the Government should control work on the goldfields. No disturbance had been caused by the gold prospecting which had taken place and the Carter Land Commission, appointed on the recommendation of a Joint Committee of both Houses, would report on the whole position.

Tho Government estimated tliosurface area required for prospecting work during tho interim period before the .Commission's report was received would be 1000 acres out of a total native reserve of 7000 square miles. He denied emphatically that goldfield development would be disastrous to the natives, who would now find remunerative employment and who would be given land as near as possible to. land, they now occupied, while the compensation for disturbance would be at least as much as that given in similar circumstances to the white settlers.

The House supported the Government by 208 -votes to 57.

In the House of Lords, afer a long debate, a motion, for the production of papers was withdrawn.