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West Indies (Settlement) HOUSE OF COMMONS

[MR. CREECH JONES.]

the Member for East Harrow (Mr. Skinnard) for drawing public attention to the importance of this Report, and while we are determined to carry through its recommendations to the utmost prac- tical extent, we hope that there will be some reticence, because some of the recommendations have been stated in the public Press in rather too optimistic terms. I take it that the main purpose of the discussion this afternoon is to ascertain what is being done in regard to the Report.

I ought to express the very sincere thanks of His Majesty's Government to Sir Geoffrey Evans and his colleagues for the inquiries they undertook and for the very workmanlike Report which they have produced. It will be the basis for action for a long time to come. The Commission was appointed, as my hon. Friend has said, because too little progress has been made in these two mainland territories. Great areas had not been developed, there were dire social problems, and it was possible that with proper development these territories might afford some opportunities for absorbing the surplus populations in the other West Indian colonial territories.

I admit that it took some time for the House to be in possession of the Report, but there were factors which accounted for the delay, over which neither the Government nor the Commission had control. We felt, nevertheless, that because certain of the recommendations were likely to be of major importance for the development of British Honduras and British Guiana, parts of the draft Report should be made available to the Governor in order that urgent considera- tion should be given to some of the projects contemplated, and also to the Colonial Development Corporation so that preliminary studies could be put in hand. So far as I know, however, there were no leakages. There was no distribution of chapters of this Report, and if information fell into the hands of individuals, it was completely unauthorised.

The problem, I admit, is important, but the question of social and economic development is important to the territories concerned, and there is no desire on the part of His Majesty's Government that the Legislative Councils should not have

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the fullest opportunity of studying the Report and making recommendations in respect of the projects contemplated. Indeed, so far as I know, there has been the fullest consultation between the Governors and the Executive Councils in the respective territories, and a great deal of publicity has been embarked on in the territories in order that the people concerned should know precisely what is recommended and gather their reactions to the projects suggested.

There are two main purposes to be kept in view, in regard to these proposals. The first objective must be the proper develop- ment of these two, mainland territories. As regards the past, I think it is possible to accuse previous Governments of neglect in respect of these areas which form the mainland of the American Continent and consequently have great political signi- ficance. Therefore it is imperative that we should do everything in our power to develop these territories as rapidly as possible to avoid international criticism, and also to do justice to the people who are administering them.

The second objective is the population problem in the West Indies. As my hon. Friend has stated, the density of popula- tion is so great and the figures are rising to such an alarming extent that some openings must be found if economic and other standards are to be maintained at a tolerable level in our West Indian Colonies.

With these two main purposes in view, the Commission set about its work. At the same time local governments have had under consideration the possibility of planning over the next ten years, with the assistance of funds under the Colonial De- velopment and Welfare Act. Certain sums were allocated to both territories in order that they might bring into review the public works which they required, the way in which industries could be extended and the building up of social services. The Evans Report, therefore, must be taken in conjunction with the programmes worked out by the two territories for their social and economic needs.

I can assure my hon. Friend that in our approach to the problems of each territory we shall not give preference to one terri- tory over another as regards encourage- ment and financial support. We are con- cerned with them equally, and everything possible will be done. It is hoped, in order

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West Indies (Settlement) 10 DECEMBER 1948 to proceed with certain of the projects proposed in the Report, that monies will be made available in addition to those already allocated under the Colonial De- velopment and Welfare Act and that a further £2 million will be made available to enable the necessary preliminary inves- tigations to proceed.

I had better mention what is actually happening with regard to the various projects. The Evans Committee sug- gested that, in the case of rice, there should be an immediate examination into the expansion of production and more efficient planning with milling and mechanisation. The Evans Report adds very little to our knowledge of the coastal belt. That area is fairly crowded and, therefore, development of British Guiana must come more into the hinterland, with which region the projects of the Report are primarily concerned. At the request of the British Guiana Government the Commission examined the rice industry in the coastal area. There are as yet no opportunities for a decision regard- ing expansion of production. After dis- cussions with the Governor, it was decided to seek the assistance of two experts, one on organisation and one on mechanisation and milling. They are to visit the Colony early next year, together with an irrigation engineer, to report on the future organisation of the industry.

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West Indies (Settlement) The second main project concerns bananas and proposes a ten-thousand- acre plantation on the right bank of the lower Essequibo River, which affords the only outlet to the coast. Marketing pros- pects seem to be satisfactory but pre- liminary investigations are required before the work can be proceeded with. This matter has been referred to the Colonial

Development Corporation and the Direc-

tor of Agriculture in the Colony has been able to obtain quantities of disease- resisting plants from Dutch Guiana. Dis- cussions and inquiries are being made regarding shipping facilities if these crops can be produced.

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At the same time it is necessary that the bar at the mouth of the Essequibo River should be dredged, and engineer is being sent to the Colony right away to investigate the possibilities of such operations. If development is to take place in the hinterland, and bananas, cocoa, tobacco, bauxite and so on are to be marketed, and as the lines of com- munication will mainly follow the river, the bar must be released in order to facilitate traffic and commerce.

The Question having been proposed at Four o'Clock and the Debate having con- tinued for half an hour, Mr. SPEAKER adjourned the House without Question put, pursuant to the Standing Order.

Adjourned at Half-past Four o'Clock.

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