§ 60. Mr. JOHNSTONasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the Governor of the Colony of British Honduras has sanctioned the farming out of the timber reserves on an enormous tract of Crown land for a period of 30 years from 1930; that this contract is worth £20,000,000; that an offer from British sources was received prior to 27th May, 1926; that this offer was declined on the ground that it was too late and that the offer of an American syndicate had already been accepted, whereas, in fact, this American offer had not been formally accepted on 14th July, 1926; 1238 whether he can state the present position in regard to these offers; and whether, in view of the threatened world timber shortage and the rise in prices to this country, he will take steps to safeguard our national interests in this matter?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. Amery)I am unable to accept as accurate several of the statements implied in the hon. Member's question. For an account of the transaction to which he alludes, I would refer him to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Barnstaple (Sir Basil Peto) on the 23rd February, of which I am sending him a copy.