§ Mr. C. BUXTONasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can give particulars of the proposals of the Legislative Council of Kenya Colony for the granting of credit facilities to agriculturists; whether native producers are included in the purview of such proposals; whether the local boards now being set up include representatives of native interests; and, if not, whether he will take steps to secure that such producers should be included and their interests represented?
§ Dr. SHIELSA sum of £100,000 has been appropriated from the surplus balances of the Colony for the purpose of providing short-term agricultural credits under strict conditions, including a rate of interest which will not interfere with bank advances where the banks are willing to lend. There will be no racial discrimination in the consideration of 407W applications for such advances. The chairmen of the local boards set up to examine applications will be senior administrative officers who may be relied upon to give sympathetic consideration to any representations made by native interests, and if in any district further special provision should be found necessary to meet native requirements, the constitution of the boards will permit of additions for this purpose.