§ 33. Mr. J. Johnsonasked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what encouragement is being given by the Government of Swaziland to the development of the co-operative movement and the training of African personnel to take part in such development.
§ Mr. AlportThe Government of Swaziland are well aware of the desirability of encouraging co-operative marketing in the Protectorate. Amendments to the Co-operative Law are under consideration and arrangements have been made for a Government officer and the African secretary of a prospective cooperative society to visit Basutoland to study the development of the co-operative movement there.
§ Mr. JohnsonWould not the hon. Gentleman agree again that the cooperative movement is the best kind of functional democracy that we can take to the African people? In view of this, will he do his best to get some Swazis over to the Co-operative College at Loughborough?
§ Mr. AlportI fully agree with the hon. Gentleman that the co-operative move- 1286 ment in its various aspects has a very important part to play in the future developments of these territories. In Swaziland there are, in addition to the co-operative societies, 130 centres for cooperative marketing of dairy produce which are embryo co-operative societies and might provide a basis for development in the future.