§ 91. Sir W. de FRECEasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can state the parts of the Empire overseas which are now cultivating cot ton, indicating in each case whether this is done with official assistance; and whether in the various cases the results from the price realised have proved satisfactory?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GORECotton is grown in Australia, the Union of South Africa, Cyprus, the Leeward Islands, Barbados, St. Vincent, Nigeria, Nyasaland, Rhodesia, Uganda, Swaziland and Fiji, and, on a smaller scale in a large number of other Colonies and Protectorates. Cotton is also grown in India, but I can give no information as to that part of the Empire. So far as the Colonies and Protectorates are concerned, official assistance by Governments is practically confined to instruction and advice, with, in certain places, control of buying operations so as to protect native growers and to prevent the deterioration of cotton. The Colonial Office is in close touch with the Empire Cotton Growing Corporation in this matter. Prices, necessarily, depend on the position of the market for American cotton, but, having regard to the depression in the cotton trade in this country, I have no reason to suppose that they are inadequate.