§ 31. Sir ROBERT HAMILTONasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies the amount of the subsidy paid during 1930 by the Kenya Government to maize growers in the Colony, and the amount proposed to be paid during 1931?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Dr. Drummond Shiels)In 1930 the Government of Kenya assisted the maize industry of the Colony by making recoverable advances under the Agricultural Advances Ordinance to the extent of £30,975 and by refunding charges for grading and conditioning to the amount of £12,155. In addition, railway rates were reduced at a cost of £53,900, of which one half was refunded to the Transport Administration by the Colonial Government and is recoverable from the industry. The Transport Administration also refunded port storage charges to the amount of £15,500. My Noble Friend recently approved of a scheme of recoverable advances free of interest to an amount not exceeding £108,000 in respect of the maize crop harvested towards the end of last year and the beginning of this year.
§ Sir R. HAMILTONCan the hon. Gentleman say whether these payments have been made to all growers of maize, or only to the European?
§ Dr. SHIELSNo, Sir, there is no power of discrimination in the committee.