§ 65. Sir FREDRIC WISEasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any tenders were invited from private engineering firms for the construction of the Takoradi harbour works under the Stewart and MacDonnell scheme; and whether, in agreeing to adopt any recommendations made by Mr. Palmer, he will make it a condition that the Ronaldshay recommendations shall be followed, and tenders invited and compared with estimates of cost and time made departmentally or otherwise?
Mr. THOMASThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. As to the second part, I have invited tenders from several firms of contractors for the completion of the harbour on the lines advised by Mr. Palmer.
§ 70. Mr. J. HARRISasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in coming to a decision upon the Takoradi Harbour works, he will endeavour to secure, as essential to the adoption of any new scheme, a low-water depth of not less than 20 feet, a pier capacity which would include a daily handling of 3,000 tons of manganese, a cocoa storage of 50,000 tons, a coal storage of 5,000 tons, adequate provision for log-rolling and storage, and a total all-in cost of not more than £3,000,000, including the losses entailed under the Stewart and MacDonnell scheme?
Mr. THOMASMr. Palmer's proposals for the harbour works which I have accepted provide, at an estimated total cost of £2,500,000, for berths for three vessels, one with a low-water depth of 30 feet and two with depths of 25 feet or over. It is expected that 10,000 ton cargoes of manganese will be loaded in three or four days. There will be adequate provision for storage, but I cannot give exact figures.
§ Mr. HARRISCan the right hon. Gentleman say if the £2,500,000 is in addition to the £1,600,000, or does it include the whole or part of that?
Mr. THOMASIt includes the total, but it is only fair to say that this is an estimate, and I have invited tenders based on that estimate.
§ Sir F. WISEIs all that paid by the Colonies?