Mr. Smithersasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action has been taken to develop the Central Experiment Station, Trinidad, in view of the unsatisfactory state of affairs revealed in the Department of Agriculture Report for 1948, paragraph 142.
§ Mr. J. GriffithsProvision for the development of the Central Experiment Station in Trinidad has been included in a Colonial Development and Welfare Scheme for an Agricultural Experimental Station which I approved in March, 1950. The purpose of this scheme is the development of more stable systems of agriculture on a mixed farming basis, and investigation into the yield of crops so grown in order to improve the standard of living of the agricultural worker. The total cost of the scheme will be £158,750, towards which His Majesty's Government are contributing £82,917. It is expected that the station will come into full operation in 1952.