§ 42. Mr. Anthony Greenwoodasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Government of Mauritius have plans for the development of irrigation facilities to benefit small planters in the district of La Nicoliere and the restoration of Mahebourg as a second port for the island.
Mr. Creech JonesThe Government of Mauritius have already started repairing canals in the La Nicoliere region and the continuation of this work is included in the Colony's dvelopment and welfare ten year plan about to be considered by the Colonial Office. Further development of irrigation in the north of Mauritius is under examination but any extension of irrigation facilities must depend to a large extent on the result of experiments to determine the suitability for irrigation of the soils of that area. As regards the second part of the Question, I am informed that a suggestion that Mahebourg should be re-opened as a port is being examined by the Government of the Colony.