§ 17. Colonel Wedgwoodasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what he is doing to stimulate maximum production in the Colonies, with a view to providing increased foreign credits and munitions and supplies for this country?
Mr. M. MacDonaldSince the war began, experience has shown that production of most Colonial commodities is fully adequate to meet the needs of the Allies and demands from foreign countries to whom we are exporting. In those few cases in which this is not so, for example, copper in Northern Rhodesia, steps have been taken by the producers, with the approval and assistance of His Majesty's Government, to increase their capacity to the maximum possible extent.
§ Colonel WedgwoodDo I understand that generally the right hon. Gentleman is not taking any steps to increase exports similar to the steps being taken in this country?
Mr. MacDonaldMy answer indicated that so far as the countries we are exporting to are concerned the steps are adequate.
Mr. MacDonaldIt is impossible to say yet what the actual yield of the current crop will be, but there was an increase of planting of something like 20 per cent.