§ 93. Mr. Sorensenasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that furniture made in West Africa has been shipped to this country; to what extent the manufacture of furniture has increased in recent years; and what special arrangements are contemplated to encourage the export of furniture and other manufactured goods to this country.
Mr. Creech JonesAccording to my information, the only imports of West African furniture into this country have been the shipments to the W.V.S. and certain other sample shipments. I am aware that there has been some recent increase in the manufacture of furniture the output of which is to a large extent absorbed by local demand. In Nigeria the local demand will exceed supply for some time to come. The Gold Coast Government is giving special training to cabinet makers, but it is not considered desirable to encourage exports on a large scale until the output of high quality furniture is sufficient to enable the trade to be firmly established and developed. I am consulting my right hon. and learned Friend the President of the Board of Trade, regarding the extent to which the import of manufactured goods from the Colonies can be encouraged within the limits imposed by the financial and production policies of this country.