§ 43. Mr. Rileyasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the termination of the construction of the American air and naval bases in Trinidad, the Government will favourably consider restarting the reclamation of the Caroni swamp in Trinidad, both in order to afford employment to the 20,000 men who have been employed on the American bases and to make available a large area of land suitable for rice cultivation?
§ Mr. Harold MacmillanThere is a serious shortage of labour in the Colony for agricultural work, and the labourers so far released from work on the United States bases can be absorbed in agriculture and on public works for which there is need in Trinidad. But I am obliged to my hon. Friend for his suggestion which will be kept in mind.
§ Mr. RileyIs my right hon. Friend aware that there is a surplus of labour in Barbados, which is not very far from this site, and could not that labour be utilised?
§ Mr. MacmillanThere are some difficulties about the movement of labour, although we are doing it to some extent.
§ Sir L. LyleIs it not a fact that labour is urgently required on established industry in Trinidad where the withdrawal of labour has caused the harvesting of this year's crop to be put seriously into jeopardy?