§ 31. Mr. Mathersasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken to safeguard the sugar industry in Trinidad owing to export and shipping difficulties; and whether land formerly used for sugar growing will be utilised for the cultivation of other crops?
§ The Secretary of State for the Colonies (Colonel Oliver Stanley)Arrangements have been made in Trinidad, as elsewhere in the West Indies, whereby His Majesty's Government will take over and pay for all sugar produced, even if it cannot immediately be shipped, and will hold it in store locally. The Trinidad Government is endeavouring to secure the maximum possible extension of acreage under food crops for local consumption, but its efforts are seriously hampered by the shortage of labour, which is the primary cause of such diminution in the sugar crop as is taking place in that Colony.
§ Mr. MathersAre we to understand that the shortage in this crop is due not to land going out of cultivation but to labour difficulties only?
§ Colonel StanleyThe chief difficulty in Trinidad at the moment is whether there will be enough labour to reap the crop.
§ Colonel StanleyThat is another question. The hon. Gentleman will realise the very great difficulty of communication between these islands at present.