§ 18. Mr. BARRasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the fact that the report to the Council of the League of Nations on the administration of Palestine and Transjordania for the year 1934 attributes the large increase in the production of wines to the reduction of licence fees operating: from 1st January, 1934; whether this increase still continues; and whether he will, under the mandate, take all possible steps to secure an improvement in this regard?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. J. H. Thomas)I have seen the statement to which the hon. Member refers. For a variety of reasons the production of wine in 1933 was exceptionally small. There has naturally been some increase both in 1934 and 1935, but the production is still under two- 1357 thirds of that for 1930, despite the considerable increase in the population in the meanwhile. In the circumstances, I see no cause for concern.