§ 18. Mr. Owenasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies for what reason Africans are not permitted to form cooperative societies in the tobacco industry in Nyasaland.
§ Mr. ProfumoThe marketing of the African tobacco crop is the responsibility of the Agricultural Production and Marketing Board. It is empowered to appoint agents but has not as yet so appointed any African co-operative society because tobacco processing and marketing need a particularly high degree of technical administrative and commercial knowledge, which African co-operatives in Nyasaland have not yet acquired.
§ Mr. OwenIs not the Minister aware that Africans can grow tobacco only upon Trust land, that all agricultural products are controlled by the marketing and production boards, and that consequently their produce is directed to specified markets at lower prices? Is not the set-up calculated to maintain vested interests for the Europeans, to the detriment of the economic development of the African people?
§ Mr. ProfumoNo, Sir. I do not think I can add anything to the Answer I have already given the hon. Gentleman.