§ 19. Mr. Awberyasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if his attention has been drawn to the 1951 Report of the Director of Fisheries at Singapore, where a decrease in the number of Malay fishermen and an increase in the number of Chinese are recorded; what steps are being taken by the Government to assist the Malay fishermen; what loans have been made for modern equipment; and what steps have been taken to assist Malay fishermen in the formation of marketing co-operatives.
§ Mr. LytteltonYes, Sir, I have seen the Report. The various forms of Government assistance mentioned in the Report are available to established 2084 fishermen of any race. I am asking the Governor to supply the details asked for and I will circulate the information in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. AwberyIs the Minister aware that we are discussing in one of our Standing Committees at the moment a White Fish and Herring Industries Bill which seeks to give assistance to our own fishermen? Will the right hon. Gentleman consider assisting the fishermen of Malaya in the same way as we are contemplating assisting the fishermen in this country?
§ Mr. LytteltonI hardly think that the analogy is one that I can pursue. The Singapore Government have set up a fund of 250,000 dollars for this purpose.