Colonel A. Evansasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can now state what action His Majesty's 1842W Government have taken or are taking in connection with the report of Major G. St. John Orde Brown on the situation in the West Indies?
Mr. M. MacDonaldCopies of Major Orde Browne's report on labour conditions in the West Indies were sent to the Governors of the Colonies in the West Indian area who were asked to furnish me with their comments and suggestions for implementing recommendations as regards the Colonies under their administration. Replies have been received from Barbados, Jamaica, British Honduras, Bermuda and Trinidad, and summaries of the action taken or proposed are given below. The general section of the report is at present receiving consideration and will be further considered in the light of the suggestions from the Governors when these are all received.
Major Orde Browne recognises in his report that many of his recommendations, notably those concerning land settlement, involve the expenditure of large sums of money; it will, of course, be necessary to consider all the recommendations involving expenditure in the light of the financial position resulting from the war.