§ COLONEL LOCKWOOD (Essex, Epping)To ask the Secretary of State for 817 the Colonies whether he is aware that one of the main objects in subsidising the Elder, Dempster Line of steamers between Jamaica and Bristol, to the extent of £40,000 a year. was to enable the growers of bananas in Jamaica to have an alternative to selling their fruit to the American United Fruit Company, who were the only purchasers, and that this object has been entirely defeated by the Elder, Dempster Line arranging to purchase their fruit from the United Fruit Company, thereby reconstituting the control of the market held by the Americans; and whether, seeing that the small grower of bananas in Jamaica can only dispose of his fruit at 6d. to 9d. a bunch in eon-sequence of the foregoing arrangements, he will consider the advisability of taking steps to secure for the Jamaica cultivator some benefit from the subsidy.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Lyttelton.) The main object of subsidising the Jamaica Direct Service was to stimulate the fruit trade between the United Kingdom and the West Indies, and the effort has been successful. The contract provided that bananas should be bought for shipment by the subsidised steamers, and this provision is fulfilled. I consider that the Jamaica growers do receive benefit from the subsidy in the form of a market which would not otherwise be open to them, and that there is no reasonable ground for seeking to alter the terms of the contract.