§ Captain Cunningham-Reidasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Commission to inquire into the problem of agricultural indebtedness in Zanzibar has reported; and, if so, in what sense?
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreI presume that the Commission to which the hon. and gallant Member refers is that appointed by the Acting British Resident in August, 1934. That Commission reported in April, 1935, and I am sending him a copy of the Report which contains a summary of the recommendations. The Zanzibar Government did not, however, regard the recommendations as likely to lead to an adequate solution of the rural indebtedness problem and were obliged to review the situation radically. In this task, which has since occupied their constant attention, they have derived valuable assistance from Sir Ernest Dowson who at the invitation of the British Resident, went to Zanzibar a few weeks ago is now engaged in assisting the Government in an endeavour to frame comprehensive legislation which I hope and expect will deal effectively with the major difficulties of a peculiarly complex problem.