HC Deb 24 July 1940 vol 363 cc821-2W
Mr. J. Morgan

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what representations he has received recently from the Cocoanut Planters' Union of Fiji concerning copra prices; and what was his reply?

Mr. George Hall

Representations with regard to the marketing of Fiji copra were received in May through the officer administering the government and in reply attention was drawn to the overriding war-time difficulties which have rendered it impossible for His Majesty's Government to draw any substantial portion of their requirements of copra from the Western Pacific. I should like to add that the whole position of the copra trade of the Colonial Empire, which is only a part of the grave and very widespread problem of disposal of surplus supplies, is being urgently considered with a view of devising such measures of amelioration as may be possible