Sir N. Stewart Sandemanasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can state the approximate number of acres of land capable of cultivation in the Mesaoria Plain, Cyprus; the number which have already been irrigated; and the number which the water engineer estimates it will be possible to irrigate with water obtained from underground supplies?
Mr. M. MacDonaldThe answer to the first part of the question is 314,240 acres; to the second, 14,250 acres, with an additional 5,500 acres irrigated during the winter only. With regard to the last part of the question: with the deep water so far discovered 4,500 acres can be irrigated, but it is not yet possible to give a full estimate since the extent of the underground supplies is still under investigation.
§ Commander Marsdenasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the recent statement by the late Governor of Cyprus that there is no unrest in the colony, he will consider introducing some limited form of self-government?
§ Mr. Mathersasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is now in a position to make a statement regarding the Cyprus petitions for the granting of a measure of self-government in the colony?
Mr. M. MacDonaldI am informed by the Acting Governor of Cyprus that 32 of these petitions have been received by the Government, to which some 8,337 signatures have been appended. The petitions were addressed to the Acting Governor and have been acknowledged. As regards the Government's policy concerning any development towards self-governing institutions in the island, I would refer the hon. Member to the statement which I made in reply to questions on 5th July.