COLONIAL AND MIDDLE EASTERN SERVICES (Hansard, 16 October 1945)

The Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr. Creech Jones)
The first item of the Supplementary Estimate relates to an amount of £13,000 in respect to damage arising from a hurricane in the Turks and Caicos Islands. I ought to 1040 explain that the hurricane, which came in September, was one of the most severe in the history of these parts, that very considerable damage was done, that many lighters and fishing boats were destroyed, that nearly all the houses were severely damaged, at least half of them were destroyed, wharves were demolished, and a great deal of physical distress followed. Of the population of 4,000 no less than 87 lost their lives, and these were poor people who had suffered very badly during the war period and had no reserves on which to fall back. In the circumstances, the Legislative Council of Jamaica voted £10,000 towards relief and rehabilitation, and His Majesty's Government feel that the remainder of the damage involved, and the cost of rehabilitation, should be met from Imperial funds. Accordingly, they ask that the remainder of £13,000 should be made available in order to meet the difficulties which have arisen as a result of this severe natural catastrophy.
The second item relates to a short-term loan of £42,200 to the Seamen's Hospital Society in order that they may acquire, as an interim policy, certain buildings which are necessary for the treatment of tropical diseases. The Society is the body which is largely responsible for hospital services and treatment of tropical diseases, and they have, in their present difficulties, no funds with which to purchase a temporary hospital in order to meet present demands. They have a long-term programme for finding a suitable hospital, but, at the moment, because they cannot go back to their old premises which have been condemned as a hospital by the Ministry of Health, it is necessary that a loan should be made to them in order that there should be accommodation for at least 40 beds, and other provisions made for people suffering from tropical diseases.
The third item is concerned with a grant of £25,000 to the Far Eastern Relief Committee. Many of the British internees who are now coming back from the Far East have been through a very trying and terrifying ordeal, and many of them come back without any possessions whatsoever, and they have to find, of course, a place in our own life. They need to be restored to health, and to be rehabilitated. Many of them are absolutely penniless. It is suggested that, although the Government can make normal provision for people in distress, these folk should have their 1041 grants supplemented in cases of need from the Far Eastern Relief Fund. This fund has an unofficial representative committee, presided over by Lord Broad-bridge. It draws most of its money from the Lord Mayor's Empire Air-Raid Fund, and the purpose of this grant is to supplement the moneys of the Far Eastern Relief Fund in order that some of the distress which many of these persons will be suffering may be alleviated. These three items represent the sum of £80,200 asked for in the supplementary estimates.

§ Mr. York (Ripon)
I shall be glad if the Colonial Secretary will say whether the whole of the sum he is now asking the Committee to grant, in connection with the Turks and Caicos Islands, is in respect of housing, or, rather, the rebuilding of property, mainly housing. I would like to ask him whether he would explain if there is any compensation for crops included in this sum. If that is thecase, I would ask him to look at the report of Professor Engeldow on this particular subject, which has only just been published, in which the Professor draws attention to the fact that in the West Indies, where hurricane damage is compensated by the Colonial Office, it is very often the case that the result to native cultivators is not that which is obviously desired by His Majesty's Government. Perhaps the Colonial Secretary could enlighten me whether any of this sum has been used for that purpose.

Mr. Creech Jones
This is not in respect of damage to crops at all. The £23,000 is required for rehousing and rebuilding because practically every building received some damage or was destroyed. Only £2,000 will go in ordinary relief, £1,000 will go for wharves and the restoration of certain small works, and of the £23,000 concerned only £13,000 is asked for from the Imperial Exchequer, because £10,000 was supplied by the Government of Jamaica itself.

§ Colonel Oliver Stanley (Bristol, West)
I would like to apologise to the hon. Gentleman for not having been here when he made his speech, and to take this opportunity of congratulating him on making his first speech from the Front Bench. He has, I know, sown his Colonial wild oats, and now he has, with the rest of the Front Bench, a mantle of responsibility. We shall look forward to hearing more from him.
1042 As to the damage to the Turks and Caicos Islands, I think the policy of the Colonial Office in recent years has been much more generous towards these terrible catastrophes in tropical lands than it was in the past. Hon. Members will remember that we managed to get the old loan to Honduras put on a much more satisfactory basis. I think that anybody who has had the opportunity of visiting one of these territories afflicted by a hurricane will realise what a terrible effect it has on the whole territory. I should be out of Order in dealing here with other territories suffering similarly, but I only hope the hon. Member will extend to Mauritius the same treatment as in this case.
Question put, and agreed to. Resolved: That a Supplementary sum, not exceeding £80,200, be granted to His Majesty, to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1946, for sundry Colonial and Middle Eastern Services under His Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies, including certain non-effective services and grants in aid.