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RUSTICITY, LONDON.
THE HORACE PLUNKETT FOUNDATION,
10, DOUGHTY STREET,
Ei
3*
M. DIGBY, SECRETARY.
R. 2014/
54236/47 29fers: Pl fila.
LONDON, W.C.1.
CO-OPERATIVE REFERENCE LIBRARY
B.J.Surridge, Esq., O.B.E.,
Colonial Office,
Dover House, S.W.1.
Dear Mr. Surridge,
May 31, 1947
I think you might be interested in the following extract from a letter I have just received from Herklots in Hong Kong:
"In early March a despatch was sent to the Secretary of State asking that a fully qualified Registrar of Co-operatives be sent out here to advise and to plan for the future. As yet no re ply has been received to this despatch. There is no doubt that if started on the right lines the Co-operative Movement here will grow at a tremendous rate and might even swamp other forms of business. There is quite definitely a demand for the formation of consumer co-operatives as well as for small industrial co-oper- atives, and i am certain that if the early ones are successful nothing can stop the movement spreading. I am convinced, however, that it will be a mistake to encourage this movement until two perequisites have been satisfied - (1) the appointment of a very experienced man to guide the movement and (2) the passing of the necessary legislation. This has been drafted here for months but the Legal Branch is so busy that it has been unable to complete the business. It is hoped that the delay will not be prolonged much further.
Mr. C.F.Hickling, Fisheries Adviser to the S. of S., has been here for about three weeks. Part of the time was spent at sea and part of the time was spent on a trip to the West River some 70 miles north of Canton to study the fish fry industry. He has said, amongst other things, what we realised long ago, that this is the premier fishing port in the Colonial Empire. We have now some 60,000 fisherfolk and 5000 fishing vessels."
I think this is an urgent case for a Registrar and perhaps also for suggesting that the Legal Branch would be less burdened if they took the Mode 1 rdinance as it stands. I suspect "erklots may be trying to graft on some kind of Marketing Board provisions which would be better dealt with by a separate act. This, however, is only a guess.
No answe vermied. I Lav lyflḍ to Miss & heat the position is.
Affridge.
2/10.
Yours sincerely,
th. Digby Secretary