§ 30. Mr. Harveyasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the number of Africans in Tanganyika still engaged in enforced labour; whether he can given an estimate of the food prospects in Tanganyika, and what measures are being taken to safeguard and augment the production of food in the native reserves.
§ Colonel StanleyThe number of Africans compulsorily employed is now 18,750. As the answers to the other parts of the Question are necessarily rather long, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. HarveyHas the situation improved now?
§ Colonel StanleyThere is a slight improvement, but I am afraid that the general prospects must depend on the long rains, which are now nearly due.
§ Following is the statement:
§ No reliable forecast of food prospects can be made at present. Every possible means of encouraging production has been employed, including guaranteed prices. Abnormally large areas have been prepared for planting with foodstuffs, but it remains to be seen whether the rains, which have failed wholly or in part in many areas during the past two years, will be satisfactory in 1944. Given good rains and freedom from locusts, the harvesting prospects will be favourable, and food supplies should be sufficient for local needs. In the native areas minimum acreages have been insisted upon for each household, and special emphasis has been laid on crops least liable to drought and locust attacks. In the Central Provinces, the area most affected in the last two years, there has already been a fair rainfall and prospects have improved. Africans are being encouraged to build up reserves against inter-season shortage, and communal grain-stores are being erected.