§ 17. Mr. Walter Fletcherasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, what the stocks of groundnuts in the Kano area were during the period 1st November, 1946, to 1st November, 1947; what were the total shipments during the period 1st November, 1946, to 1st November, 1947; and what proportion of the remaining stock is new crop or old crop.
Mr. Creech JonesThe unshipped stocks of groundnuts in the Kano area were 10,000 tons on the 1st November, 1946; they rose to a peak figure of 208,000 tons in February, and declined to 98,000 tons by the 1st November this year. Total shipments from Nigeria during that period amounted to 225,000 tons. Stocks at the 1st November this year were entirely from the 1946–47 crop.
§ Mr. FletcherDoes not the Minister think that, to use his own phrase, anyone familiar with agricultural appointments in the Colonies would realise that 1127 this is a gross failure on the part of the Government to move an old crop, and will he take steps to see that East African schemes do not get such priority in railway matters as to stop these groundnuts from coming here quickly?
Mr. Creech JonesThere is no question of East Africa getting priority. All steps have been taken to get the necessary locomotives and additional railway equipment, and I hope that, before long, these demands will be met.