HC Deb 06 March 1931 vol 249 cc734-5W
Mr. CAMPBELL

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware of the depression in the rubber plantation industry in Malaya and other British dependencies, owing to over-production in the principal producing countries, whereby the revenues of both the Colonies affected and also the home Government are depreciated; and will he be prepared, in consultation with the various associations in this country connected with the industry and the High Commissioner who is now home on leave, to investigate the matter with a view to devising some scheme for the betterment of the industry?

Dr. SHIELS

My noble Friend is well aware of the extremely depressed state of the rubber industry and of the deplorable effects on those engaged in the industry and he has consulted the High Commissioner for the Malay States on the subject: but he regrets that the Government cannot see its way to initiate any scheme. If, however, the producers in all the countries concerned can agree on a scheme which provides for a practi- cable planning of aggregate production in correspondence with world demand, my noble Friend will be prepared to give it careful consideration.