§ 86. Mr. Sorensenasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent the campaign for the voluntary cutting-down of cocoa trees achieved success in the Gold Coast; how far seed trees have been planted; whether all these are proving to be disease-resisting or immune from disease; and what are the prospects in regard to the industry during the next five years.
§ Mr. LytteltonThe campaign to publicise the "New Deal" for cocoa and to win the co-operation of the farmers made possible the recent decision of the Gold Coast Government that general cutting out of diseased trees shall begin again forthwith. Considerable replanting has taken place in recent years and this will now be intensified. No type of cocoa tree which can resist disease or is immune from it has yet been developed. There is no slackening in world demand for cocoa and the prosperity of the industry will depend on the effectiveness of the measures to he taken to rehabilitate it.