HC Deb 22 April 1931 vol 251 c962
22. Colonel HOWARD-BURY

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the Malayan Government claim to establish a monopoly in the provision of harbours in Malaya and have refused to permit any extension of the wharfage arrangements at Penang prior to carrying out experiments with the wharves at Prai; will he state whether the wharves at Prai have been successful or not; how much money has been expended on them; and how much is to be expended?

Dr. SHIELS

I am not aware that permission to extend wharves at Penang has been refused in the interests of the wharves at Prai, but I will ask the Acting-Governor for a report. The wharves at Prai have not been a success. They cost about £2,000,000. There has been no capital expenditure on them since 1926.

Colonel HOWARD-BURY

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that those wharves were really disastrous failures, and that to make them at all usable, as suggested, would cost an enormous further sum of money; and will the hon. Gentleman look into the matter again?

Dr. SHIELS

I think that what I have said is in general agreement with what the hon. and gallant Member has said.

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