HC Deb 22 April 1937 vol 322 cc1938-40W
Captain Alan Graham

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will reassure West African traders that it is not the Government's intention to subordinate the transport, averaging 155,000 tons of yearly traffic, by the River Niger, the cheapest and best channel of trade evacuation for an area of 40,000 square miles, to transport by rail and road in Nigeria, thus neglecting to maintain and improve the facilities for water transport?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

The relation between rail, river and road transport in Nigeria is at present under consideration by the Nigeria Transport Board in connection with the future of a section of the Nigeria Railways. I am expecting to receive a report from the Governor in the early summer, and I can assure my hon. and gallant Friend that I shall give the particular aspect of the matter to which he refers the most careful consideration in the light of the transport requirements of the country as a whole.