§ Mr. ARBUTHNOTasked the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies, it experiments in cotton growing are being carried out in any of the Crown Colonies by either the Imperial or Colonial Governments; if so, in which colonies; and what grants in aid, if any, are made for this purpose by the Imperial Governments?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY Of STATE for the COLONIES (Colonel Seely)The Imperial Government is not carrying out directly any experiments in cotton growing in the Crown Colonies, nor have grants in aid hitherto been made specifically for this purpose; but for some time past a great deal has been done in encouraging the growth of cotton by a number of Colonial Governments, particularly in the West Indies and Tropical Africa, including most of those which receive grants in aid of general revenue. If the hon. Member desires more complete information on the subject, I shall be happy to have a detailed memorandum prepared for him.
Mr. CATHCART WASONasked the Under-Secretary for the Colonies if he could state to what extent cultivation of cotton was successful and progressing in the Protectorate of Uganda, and the cultivation of fibre, coffee, wheat, and wool in the Protectorate of East Africa; and what markets exist for the disposal of the commerce of the said Protectorates?
§ Colonel SEELYI regret that it is not practicable to make an adequate reply within the compass of an answer to a question. Information as to the cultivation of cotton in Uganda will be found in a Special Report on the subject made by the late Governor of the Protectorate a few months ago, and in the Report on the Botanical, Forestry, and Scientific Department of the Protectorate for the year ended on the 31st of March, 1909. Both these Reports have been presented to Parliament. They are Cd. 4910 and Cd. 4972. Information as to the production of fibre, coffee, wheat, 1673 and wool in the East Africa Protectorate will be found in the Annual Reports on that Protectorate which have been presented to Parliament and in the Annual Reports of the Protectorate Department of Agriculture. I shall be happy to place these sources of information at the disposal of my hon. Friend, so far as he may not have access to them already.
§ Colonel SEELYThe answer to the latter part of the question was to be found in the first part of my reply. I say there it is not practicable to give an adequate reply within the compass of an answer to a question.