§ 18. Mr. Geoffrey Cooperasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what was the nature of the report, dated 10th August, 1946, on the Gaskiya Corporation in Nigeria; and what action has been, or is intended to be, taken on this report.
§ The Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr. Creech Jones)I am informed that the report was a confidential memorandum submitted to the Nigerian Government by the official who acted as chairman of the Corporation for a short period while the chairman himself was on leave. It contained certain criticisms of the Corporation's organisation and a suggestion that it should be transferred from Zaria to Kano. The Governor of Nigeria has carefully considered the report, but is satisfied that there is no justification for a departure from the proposals for the establishment of the Corporation which were approved by the then Secretary of State in 1944.
§ Mr. CooperCan my right hon. Friend say if, in point of fact, the report shows that the organisation is wasting public money, it is sadly defective in its organisation and what steps he proposes to take in order to improve its supervision?
§ Mr. Creech JonesBut the organisation has done some very good work and 462 we should give it all the encouragement that we can.