§ 81. Mr. Palingasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether any proposals have been made to the Colonial Development Advisory Committee for assistance from the Colonial Development Fund towards land reclamation works to counteract soil erosion in Basutoland; and, if not, whether there are any other schemes for carrying out the recommendations made by Sir Alan Pim?
§ Sir T. InskipYes, Sir. In 1936, a loan from the Colonial Development Fund of £160,233 spread over ten years was granted for a scheme for combating soil erosion. Work on this scheme was commenced towards the end of 1936, and good progress has since been made. A loan of £3,070 was also granted from the fund towards the cost of an ecological survey of the mountain area of Basutoland. This survey was completed in 1937 and a report was published last year.