§ 22. Captain BOURNE (for Mr. TINNE)asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will state the cause of the check which has occurred in the extension of rice cultivation in British Guiana during recent years?
§ Dr. SHIELSIt appears possible that the decline in rice exports from British Guiana which has taken place since 1928 may be due to a decrease in the demand for the parboiled rice at present produced in the Colony. The whole question has been the subject of a special inquiry by a rice expert whose visit was financed from funds made available by the Empire Marketing Board. The expert's report on his investigations has recently been received, and will shortly be published.
§ Captain BOURNEIs the hon. Member satisfied that this reduction is not caused by the prohibition of exports of rice from that country?
§ Dr. SHIELSYes, Sir. I am satisfied that the reduction, which was not a reduction of area of cultivation, but a reduction in the amount exported, is due to the fact that British Guiana rice is parboiled. It simply means, if the world demand is for white rice, that unless British Guiana is prepared to meet that demand it must face a falling off.