§ 17. Mr. HANNONasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the recent report prepared by Mr. Stockdale, the agricultural adviser to the Colonial Office, on the situation which confronts the cocoa industry in Trinidad; and if any action is contemplated by His Majesty's Government, in consultation with the local administration to assist the industry?
Mr. M. MacDONALDThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. My hon. Friend will remember that in reply to a question of his on the 16th of November last my right hon. Friend informed him of the action which His Majesty's Government were taking with regard to cocoa. I am now in a position to say that the memorandum then referred to has been sent to the Secretariat of the League of Nations for communication to the Bureau of the Monetary and Economic Conference. His Majesty's Government consider that the most practical step which they could take to assist cocoa producers in Trinidad is to press on the arrangements for a general conference of all countries substantially interested in the production of cocoa. As regards breeding and disease, and other questions referred to in Mr. Stockdale's report, his views are engaging the careful attention of the Colonial Government.
§ Mr. HANNONWhile thanking the hon. Member for his reply, may I ask whether the Colonial Office will keep in view the interests of cocoa production in the British Empire and see that full justice is done to that industry?