§ 56. Mr. MYERSasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the Governor of the Gold Coast is employing nearly 1,000 white officials for an area of less than 90,000 square miles and a population of less than 2,000,000 of people; that the Governor of Nigeria is employing about 600 white officials for an area of 300,000 square miles and a population of over 15,000,000 of people; and if he can explain the reason for this anomalous situation?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe hon. Member is misinformed. The number of white officials in the Gold Coast on the 31st December, 1921, was 946, and in Nigeria on the same date, 2,009, and these numbers have not materially altered. The higher proportion of white officials in the Gold Coast no doubt indicates that in proportion to area and population the construction of new works is being undertaken in that Colony on a larger scale than in Nigeria. It is also the case that the system of indirect government through the native administrations is more fully developed in Nigeria where it is therefore unnecessary to retain as many European politiical officers in proportion to area and population as are required in the Gold Coast.
§ 57. Mr. PENRY WILLIAMSasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is prepared to give an undertaking that, when the harbour works of Takoradi are completed, no steps will be taken to force shipping companies or merchants to load export cargoes only from that port in the Gold Coast Colony, and that shipping lines' and merchants' chartered vessels will be as free from administrative pressure in future as heretofore to load from any or all other ports in the Gold Coast Colony?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI am not clear what the hon. Gentleman has in mind. As far as I am aware, there has never been any suggestion of any compulsion 1671 being applied to shippers to use Takoradi in preference to other ports, though it is probable that the greater facilities which will be available when the Takoradi harbour works are completed will induce them to use that port as far as possible. As a matter of fact, the Gold Coast Government is at present spending at least £100,000 upon the improvement of the harbour at Accra.
§ 58. Mr. P. WILLIAMSasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, seeing that His Majesty's Government, in authorising the expenditure on Takoradi harbour and railway works, has stated that the capital expenditure must he limited to £1,600,000, and that the present Estimates of the Gold Coast Colony include a sum of £30,000 for the survey alone of a prospective railway from Takoradi to Kotoku, he will say whether this survey has been sanctioned by His Majesty's Government: and, if so, for what purpose?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLA sum of £6,000 has been provided in the current year's Estimates of the Gold Coast, as a first instalment of the cost of the survey of a proposed new railway in the Central Province of the colony. The total cost is estimated at £30,000. The purpose of the projected railway is to provide transport facilities in this part of the colony, especially with a view to the development of cocoa districts which have not hitherto been opened up. Such improvement of transport facilities is recognised as necessary in itself, apart from the relation of the proposed new railway to the harbour now under construction at Takoradi.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODAre we to understand that there has been any pressure from traders for this railway or was this authorised solely on the advice of the Colonial Office?
Mr. O'CONNORIs it not the fact that this port opens great possibilities—greater than ever existed before, for the development of this very rich colony, and has it not been approved by public opinion in tile colony itself?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLYes, Sir, it opens up great possibilities. Of course, it is a very serious undertaking. The colony will be vastly richer and more efficient when 1672 it is completed than it at the present moment. I really do not understand the question put by the hon. and gallant Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Colonel Wedgwood).
§ Colonel WEDGWOODHas the undertaking the approval of the people on the spot? Do they want to incur expenditure on this port and railway?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe hon. and gallant. Gentleman knows exactly what are the methods by which these different colonies are governed. The usual procedure has been followed here. If he is not aware of that, I can understand why he asks so many questions on the subject.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODIt is almost impossible to ask question of the Minister for the Colonies because one is habitually insulted. In this case may I ask whether the Chamber of Commerce on the Cold Coast have or have not approved of his spending this money on this public works scheme?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI must have notice of that question.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODWhy?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. and gallant Member, in asking his original question, put, it in a form which carried an implication, whether it was intended or not. He had better place any further questions on the Paper.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODBut may I ask—
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. and gallant Member had better put his question down.
§ 59. Mr. LAWSONasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that some 20,000 tons of cocoa, valued at nearly £1,000,000 sterling, were left last year ungathered on the trees of the Gold Coast Colony: and what steps he proposes to take to prevent a repetition of this loss during the forthcoming harvest?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI have no information as to the actual amount of cocoa left ungathered in the Gold Coast last year. There is little doubt that a portion of the crop was left ungathered; and the greater part of this would probably be in the less accessible districts, in which, owing to the lack of transport facilities 1673 and to the poor price which the product commanded, it did not pay the farmer to market his crop. It is realised that the low price was in part due to the poor quality of the cocoa; and the Gold Coast Government is endeavouring to prevail on the farmers to adopt better methods of cultivation with a view to improving the quality of the crop. It is also part of the general policy of the Government to improve communications throughout the Colony, thereby opening up the more remote cocoa-bearing districts.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYMay I ask if the right hon. Gentleman is giving his personal attention to this cocoa question?
§ Mr. CHURCHILL.I take a great interest in it.