HC Deb 16 February 1949 vol 461 cc1121-2
12. Colonel Gomme-Duncan

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many agricultural officers are employed in Tanganyika; what are their salaries; and for what approximate area each officer is responsible.

Mr. Creech Jones

Thirty-three fully qualified agricultural officers are employed in Tanganyika on salaries ranging from £585 to £1,320 per annum. The aim is to have an agricultural officer in charge of each of the 47 Administrative Districts, the areas of which vary from 1,800 to 38,000 square miles, but owing to the shortage of qualified recruits it has not yet been possible to realise this aim.

Colonel Gomme-Duncan

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a considerable number of suitable persons who might be used to make up this shortage are having a good deal of their time wasted—and there are too many of them—on the groundnut scheme on the other side?

Mr. Creech Jones

I cannot accept that assumption. We are trying to increase the agricultural staff to make good the deficiency there, but in addition, we have made about 57 additional appointments of assistants to the principal agricultural officer.

Sir Patrick Hannon

Would the right hon. Gentleman tell the House what principle is followed in the selection and recruitment of these officers?

Mr. Creech Jones

That is another question, but I can supply the information. They are graduates of a certain standard and they are, of course, in short supply because we did not have the flow out from the universities in the war years.