§ 25. Mr. Sorensenasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress is being made in dealing with cocoa tree disease in West African Colonies; how far resistance to cutting down remains as strong as formerly; what other experimental methods of dealing with the disease have proved successful; and what is the anticipated production in the next 10 years compared with the best year of production.
Mr. Creech JonesOn the progress of the campaign I have nothing at the moment to add to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Twickenham (Mr. Keeling) on 19th October. Farmers are on the whole showing greater co-operation. No other method of dealing with the disease other than cutting out is known to be effective. As regards the last part of this Question, as my hon. Friend was informed on 13th July, it is not possible to forecast production over the next 10 years.
§ Mr. SorensenIf my right hon. Friend knows approximately how many trees are being planted, would it not be possible at least to produce a rough estimate?
Mr. Creech JonesIt all depends, surely, on the cocoa disease, which we are doing our best to arrest, and it is quite impossible to make any estimates with regard to the future.
§ Mr. W. FletcherIn view of the fact that over the next few years this disease may mean a very great loss of dollar earnings, and that in reality the campaign to secure native co-operation has failed, will the Colonial Secretary make special efforts to bring the matter forward again with much more urgency?
Mr. Creech JonesThe position is quite the reverse. The campaign is beginning to succeed. As, I think, there will be 1207 a Debate on this problem in the House tomorrow night, I hope to be able to show the extent to which success is returning.