Correspondence with the Government of Kenya relating to an exchange. of land with Lord Delamere.

No. 1.

The Governor of Kenya to the Secretary of State for the Colonies. (Received 15th March, 1924.) [Answered by No. 2.]

Government House, Nairobi, Kenya, 18th February, 1924.

I have the honour to inform you that an application has been received by this Government from the Right Honourable Lord Delamere in which His Lordship has asked permission to exchange his Ndaragua farms, 21,400 acres in extent, for 100,000 acres further east in Laikipia.

2. I attach maps* which illustrate the recommendation I am prepared to make on this application. It will be remembered that the Laikipia Plateau was surveyed up into comparatively small farms for issue under the Ex-Soldier Settlement Scheme. A number of farms were never actually taken up and have so reverted to the Crown, and the experience of the last few years is that this plateau is generally unsuitable for small farming. The water difficulty is pronounced and, whereas the native semi-nomadic tribe which originally occupied it was able to maintain large herds and flocks by constant migrations, the European farmer, bounded by the precise limits of his farm, and that a small one, finds it difficult to prosper. I have therefore been considering an alternative method of developing certain of the larger unoccupied spaces which do not lend themselves to close settlement, and shall shortly ask your approval of a definite scheme based probably on the principle of 21 or 33 year leases of large areas for special purposes.

3. Lord Delamere's requirements might have been met in this way save that it appears to be definitely to Government's advantage to accept his offer of exchange. The Ndaragua farms outlined in blue on Map A* contain very good land for small farms valued at 15s. per acre and readily saleable at that price. In exchange for them I recommend that the farms marked in red on Map A, which aggregate approximately 63,095 acres, be alienated to Lord Delamere on the usual terms of the Crown Lands Ordinance, 1915-their total value is approximately equal to that of the Ndaragua farms.

rent.

4. Government will also benefit by the receipt of a higher annual The Ndaragua property is held under the Crown Lands Ordinance, 1902, and is subject to a rent of £93 15 30s. per annum; the land which it is proposed to grant in exchange will, however, be based under the Crown Lands Ordinance, 1915, and will produce rent of £632 90s. per annum. Further, of course,

*Not reproduced

a

rental of £214 per annum will be derived from the Ndaragua property if and when it is sold off in small parcels.

5. The area of 63,095 acres is useful only for the purpose of a large sheep-ranch. Lord Delamere has 35,000 sheep to accommodate and proposes to stock up to 100,000. I consider that a large-scale sheep-ranch will prove an çifcouragement and an attraction to this district, and I trust that.the.exchange I recommend will command your approval. In view of the approach of the rainy season, I should be glad of an early reply to this despatch.

I have, etc.

R. T. CORYNDON,

Governor.

No. 2.

The Secretary of State for the Colonies to the Governor of Kenya.

Your despatch of 18th February.* Before considering proposal further I wish at any rate to be fully satisfied that land cannot be used to advantage of greater number of persons. Report fully by despatch.-THOMAS.

No. 3.

The Secretary of State for the Colonies to the Governor of Kenya. [Answered by No. 4.]

SIR,

Downing Street, 17th July, 1924.

I have the honour to inform you that attention has been directed in the House of Commons to the proposed exchange of land with Lord Delamere.

2. I enclose copies of Questions and Answers dated the 30th of June and the 7th of July (with the supplementary questions and answers in the former case). I should be glad to receive as precise information as is available as to the number and tribe of the natives now on the 63,000 acre tract and as to what is proposed to be done with regard to them if the exchange is approved.

3. It appears to me that in such cases there can be no serious objection to allowing the natives to remain on the land if they wish to do so. Their presence can only be inconvenient if their number is large, and in that case the justification for alienating the land at all is not obvious. I shall be glad if you will give your consideration to this suggestion.

4. The misconception as to Lord Delamere's position on the Masai Commission of enquiry does not, of course, require notice. I have, etc., J. H. THOMAS.

ENCLOSURE 1 IN NO. 3.

Questions and Answers in the House of Commons dated 30th June,

1924.

ALIENATION OF LAND.

MR. J. HARRIS asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the suggested alienation of 63,000 acres of land in Kenya Colony is land which is at present occupied by the Masai tribes: to whom is it proposed that this alienation shall be made; and whether the Commission which is about to make an enquiry into the position of the Masai in Kenya Colony will have included within its terms of reference any matters arising out of or affecting the proposed alienation?

MR. THOMAS: I have no information that there are any natives on the land in question, and it is extremely unlikely that any natives who are there are Masai, in view of the transfer of the northern Masai to the extended Southern Reserve in 1910-11. The third part of the question does not therefore in my opinion arise.

With regard to the second part, the proposal is that Lord Delamere should surrender 21,000 acres of farming land close to the Uganda Railway in exchange for 63,000 acres of sheep-grazing country in a more remote situation. The areas are stated to be of approximately equal value and, while the larger area, although it has been marked out for subdivision, is stated to be suitable only as a large grazing proposition, the smaller area can be broken up into a number of smaller holdings.

I have already stated that this proposal has not yet been approved. The position of scattered natives on land which has been intended for alienation to non-natives has been brought to the notice of the Governor and it will no doubt also come within the scope of the land Committee which I propose to set up.

MR. WALLHEAD: Is it not a fact that Lord Delamere is Chairman of the Commission that is making these proposals?

MR. HANNON: Is it not a fact that Lord Delamere has done an immense amount of pioneer work in that part of the world?

MR. LANSBURY: If the natives do not agree, shall we send a bombing expedition there?

MR. THOMAS: It is quite true that Lord Delamere has great interests in the country. The very fact that I have not approved the proposal is at least the best indication that I am having it considered further. Surely, when I ask for further information, I ought not to prejudice it by a statement in this House?

MR. WALLHEAD: Is Lord Delamere Chairman of the Commission?

MR. EDMUND HARVEY: Will the right honourable Gentleman make inquiry as to other tribes, apart from the Masai, some of which have considerable numbers in that territory?

MR. THOMAS: My honourable Friend is aware that that is one of the questions which I am asking the Committee to consider.

ENCLOSURE 2 IN No. 3.

Question and Answer in the House of Commons dated 7th July, 1924.
LAND (TRANSFER).

MR. LINFIELD asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies upon what terms 40,000 acres of land originally set aside for ex-soldier settlement in Kenya Colony have been disposed of to Lord Delamere?

MR. THOMAS: I have stated in reply to previous questions that the proposal which is for a grant of 63,000 acres of sheep-grazing country in return for the surrender of 21,000 acres of farming land has not yet been approved.

Despatch

to Colonial Office of

18/2/24*

Telegram

from Colonial

Office dated 28/3/24†

Despatch from Colonial Office of 17/7/24

No. 4.

The Governor of Kenya to the Secretary of State for the Colonies. (Received 22nd September, 1924.)

SIR,

[Answered by No. 5.]

Government House, Nairobi, Kenya, 29th August, 1924.

With reference to the marginally-noted correspondence, on the subject of the proposed exchange of land in Laikipia with the Right Honourable Lord Delamere, I have the honour to inform you that I am advised by the Chief Native Commissioner that none of the land in question is in or near any Native Reserve and that no natives have any rights in that area. I attach a copy of his memorandum of the 16th August. §

2. It is the case that a certain amount of criticism has been aroused by the proposal, which appears to be based on personal objections to a large landowner acquiring a further large extent and in ignorance of the facts. Lord Delamere has intimated through his Manager that "in view of so many other people apparently wanting this land, as far as he is personally concerned is quite willing that the area in question should be put to good use in smaller blocks, provided such can be done." As I have already explained and show further below, this alternative suggested is not in my opinion to be considered on economic or any other grounds and I see no reason to vary the recommendation contained in my despatch under reference* after further consideration and reference to local bodies.

3. I am advised that the Ndaragua property which will revert to the Crown in the event of the exchange being approved with certain additions of unalienated Crown Land is capable of division into 20-30 good agricultural holdings and should provide one of the healthiest and most attractive township sites in the Colony.