§ 49. Mr. Moreingasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the feeling of resentment expressed by the inhabitants of Cyprus at the fact that the majority of officials in the island do not speak Greek and have to carry on their duties through interpreters; and will he take steps to ensure that officials should in future be acquainted with the Greek language?
Mr. M. MacDonaldMy information does not agree with the suggestion in the first part of the question. As my hon. Friend is doubtless aware, the people of Cyprus are by no means wholly Greek-speaking, and include a considerable element, whose mother tongue is Turkish. About 95 per cent. of the officials are themselves Cypriots who speak either Greek or Turkish, and British officials are encouraged, or in appropriate cases required, to obtain a knowledge of one or other of these languages.
§ 50. Mr. Moreingasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, as the prosperity and well-being of Cyprus depends on the efficient irrigation of the Messaoria Plain, he is proposing to take steps with this object in view?
Mr. MacDonaldI am informed that the water engineer, who has been conducting investigations in Cyprus, expects very shortly to be able to submit to the Cyprus Government concrete proposals for increasing water supplies in various 1902 localities, the majority of which are in the Messaoria Plain.
§ Mr. MoreingIs the water engineer to whom my right hon. Friend referred in his reply the gentleman who published the progress report which my right hon. Friend recently put in the Library of the House?
§ Mr. MoreingIs my right hon. Friend satisfied that that gentleman is sufficiently instructed in the nature of the problem in Cyprus to make constructive proposals?
Mr. MacDonaldYes, I think he is a very experienced water engineer, and well qualified to carry out his work and make recommendations.
52. Mr. Creech Jonesasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the post in Cyprus to which Mr. Howard Nankivell, the recent secretary for labour in Trinidad, has been transferred is of equal status to that held in Trinidad, and why the salary is £200 less?
Mr. MacDonaldMr. Nankivell's appointment to the post of Treasurer in Cyprus represented promotion in the Colonial Service. The total emoluments of the post are £50 less than that of the temporary post held by Mr. Nankivell in Trinidad, but having regard to other factors, particularly the provision of free passages on leave for the officer and certain members of his family, the Cyprus post is definitely of higher value.
Mr. Creech JonesAre we to understand that this gentleman's position in the Colonial service has not been prejudiced?
Mr. MacDonaldI do not think it can be said to have been prejudiced seeing that he has received promotion.
§ 54. Mr. Gallacherasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in connection with the proposed extension of the powers of local authorities in Cyprus, it is proposed to allow these councils to be elected in whole or in part by a popular franchise?
Mr. MacDonaldThe term of office of the existing municipal councils in Cyprus does not expire until 1940. No decision has yet been reached as to the arrangements for constituting new councils in that year.
§ Mr. GallacherIs full liberty of discussion and criticism to be allowed to the ordinary inhabitants in connection with these local councils?
Mr. MacDonaldI have not received any protests on the subject, and therefore I am satisfied that the position is all right.
§ Mr. GallacherAre they to be allowed to publish any papers or leaflets they wish to publish in order to discuss and criticise what is going on in the local councils and in the island generally?
§ Mr. H. G. WilliamsIs it not the case that the amount of freedom in Cyprus is substantially greater than in Moscow?
§ 55. Mr. Gallacherasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether anything has been done to implement the recommendation of the Government Commissioner in 1934 that steps should be taken to reduce the interest burden on the indebtedness of the agrarian population of Cyprus?
Mr. MacDonaldThis complicated question is being dealt with in two stages. As a first step it was considered necessary to improve the facilities for the grant of credit. This has now been accomplished, as regards long-term credit, by the reconstitution of the Agricultural Bank, and, as regards short-term credit, by arrangements for the improvement of the operations of co-operative societies. It remains to deal with the problem of existing indebtedness. I am at present in consultation with the Governor regarding this question, but I am not yet in a position to make any announcement.
§ Mr. GallacherIs the Minister aware that the poverty in Cyprus among the agrarian population is as terrible as the poverty in the West Indian islands, and that the problem of their debts prevents them from making any progress whatever, and will he take special steps to deal with the position? Further, is he aware that the workers in Moscow have greater freedom than any other workers?
§ 58. Mr. Gallacherasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when it is proposed to restore constitutional government to Cyprus?
Mr. MacDonaldI do not consider that the time has yet arrived when any change in the constitution of the Central Government can be contemplated.
§ Mr. GallacherIn view of the fierce suppression of the Cypriots, carried on for the past half year, would it not be desirable to give them an opportunity of conducting their own affairs in their own way by the institution of a legislative assembly?
Mr. MacDonaldI cannot agree with the description which the hon. Member has given of the situation in the island. As to the second part of his question, I have already answered it in my reply to the main question.