53. Mr. SANDEMANasked the Minister of Labour what steps are being taken, with the view of relieving unemployment, to secure the orders for railway material, and to expedite the placing of orders for the same, necessary in Africa for the opening up of the cotton fields?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREI have been asked to answer this question. In Nigeria all material, rolling stock, etc., required for the railways under construction have been ordered, and in the Tanganyika Territory all material, for which provision has been made in the Estimates, has been, or is being, ordered. For the extension of the Uganda railway system into Uganda (for which provision is made under the assisted loan voted by Parliament in 1924), 150 miles of track have been ordered and are being shipped out in instalments of 1,600 tons a month. Much bridgework has been ordered and is being expedited, but it is probable that, pending the fixing of all the river crossings, the requisitions for bridgework are not yet complete. All the above material is British-made.