§ 35. Air-Commodore Harveyasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many locomotives and goods trucks have been supplied to Nigerian railways since 1st January, 1946.
Mr. Creech JonesThirty-four main line and 17 shunting locomotives, and 50 goods wagons have been supplied to the Nigerian Railways since 1st January. 1946.
§ Air-Commodore HarveyCan the right hon. Gentleman say what he expects to be delivered in the form of this equipment in the near future?
§ Sir P. MacdonaldIs it not a fact that 20 have already been delivered and been found to be too heavy for the line, and, therefore, are not being used for moving the groundnuts which have been waiting for years to be moved?
Mr. Creech JonesThat is another question, but I would point out to the hon. Gentleman that his supplementary is based on a complete misconception. If he will put down a Question, I will give him the fullest information about it.
§ 58. Mr. A. E. Daviesasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how far the railway transport has recently improved in Nigeria as a result of the availability of more locomotives and wagons; and what progress has been made in reducing the arrears in the movement of groundnuts.
Mr. Creech JonesAlthough the position on the Nigerian Railways will 1539 not be satisfactory until further locomotives and wagons now on order are delivered, there has already been an improvement, especially since 20 new locomotives came into service in June. The railways' capacity for moving groundnuts has increased from about 18,000 tons a month to a figure, which it is now hoped to maintain, of about 30.000 tons a month. Stocks of groundnuts in the Kano area, which were 267,000 tons at the middle of June, were 162,600 tons at the end of last month.