§ 17. Major Sir Basil Neven-Spenceasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when supplies of acetic and formic acid are likely to be available to estates which have joined the Malay Rubber and Estate Owners' Company, Limited, and which are now in production.
Mr. Creech JonesThe Malayan Rubber Estate Owners' Company has placed orders through the Ministry of Supply for 134 tons of formic acid and one-third of this quantity is now awaiting shipment in this country. I understand that the company has placed, and has had accepted, orders for acetic acid in Australia, but I have no information as to the date when these supplies will be shipped.
§ 18. Sir B. Neven-Spenceasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the basis on which plantation supplies are being made available to estates which have joined the Malay Rubber Estate Owners' Company, Limited.
Mr. Creech JonesThe Malayan Rubber Estate Owners Company was formed among all companies and owners of over 100 acres of rubber for the purpose of ensuring a fair distribution of equipment and services which were thought likely to be in short supply. Arrangements have been made whereby the company's requirements of supplies in this country are ordered at its request by the Colonial Office from the Ministry of Supply against an undertaking by the Company to take them over on a c.i.f. basis. The distribution of such supplies after the c.i.f. stage is a matter for the Board of the Company.
§ Sir B. Neven-SpenceIs the Under secretary aware that some estates which are now in full production have received nothing from this organisation so far except requests for subscriptions and reams of paper? If it cannot produce supplies of essential materials would it not be better to wind it up?
Mr. Creech JonesThe delay is not on the side of the Government. These orders were placed in December and the Ministry of Supply is handling them.