§ 49. Captain P. MACDONALDasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can state the action which has been taken locally by the Governments of the West Indies for the purpose of meeting the crisis in the sugar industry there?
§ Dr. SHIELSJamaica and Trinidad are the only West Indian Colonies which have found themselves able to give temporary assistance to the sugar industry in the present crisis, from their own resources. In Jamaica a law has been passed to provide for a bounty not exceeding £2 per ton of sugar manufactured in the year 1929–30, available for a period of one year. The law further provides that not less than 80 per cent. of the 1929–30 crop shall be exported. In Trinidad the Legislative Council has passed a Resolution in favour of granting a loan of £2 per ton of sugar exported during 1930, for a period not exceeding 15 years and subject to certain conditions as to the price to be paid for cane and the wages of labour.