§ 62. Mr. HANNONasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the suggestion put forward by the Nairobi chamber of commerce that, the four British territories in East Africa should be asked to share the cost of the British Trade Commissioner for East Africa will be adopted; and, if not, what steps are being taken both to safeguard our markets in these regions and to assist the local producers?
Mr. WOODBefore my attention was drawn to the Report of the suggestion of the Nairobi Chamber of Commerce, I had invited the Governments concerned to consider the question of contributing towards the cost of maintaining the British Trade Commissioner's office up to 31st March, 1923. I have not yet received replies from all of the Governments. I may observe that, if an arrangement is made on these lines, it can only be temporary. I do not think that as a permanent arrangement it would be desirable that the Trade Commissioner should be subject to local ties and control.