§ 10. Mr. PARKINSONasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can give any information as to the position and function of the agricultural advisory board which is to be set up in Northern Rhodesia; and what will be the representation of native interests on the board?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister)As the answer is a rather long one, with the hon. Member's permission I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
Following is the answer:
The Agricultural Advisory Board has been established to advise the Government on matters of agricultural production and its relation to local consumption and export. Any question connected with agricultural production will be submitted to Government through the Board, so that the Government can be assured that it has been thoroughly discussed by all interests concerned, and that any recommendation made is, in the opinion of the Board, in the general interests of the territory. The personnel of the Board, which has been chosen with a view to securing co-operation between producers, middlemen and consumers, is as follows: —The Treasurer; Chairman; the Directors of Animal Health and Agriculture and the Secretary for Native Affairs, ex officio members; five representatives of farmers and co-operative societies; two representatives for mining companies; two representatives of contractors to mining companies; one elected member of the Legislative Council, representing consumers and a member to represent the railway. When the functions of the Secretary for Native Affairs become vested in the Senior Provincial Commissioner, that officer will become an ex officio member of the Board. The official members of the Board will be charged with the representation of native interests.