HC Deb 20 November 1940 vol 365 cc2033-4W
Mr. Creech Jones

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Nigerian Government has considered the local merchants' protest against the formation of a co-operative society of the European staff of the Mgerian railway for the purchase and importation of their needs from Britain; and what action was taken?

Mr. George Hall

My Noble Friend has been in communication with the Governor of Nigeria on this subject, and learns that the Lagos Chamber of Commerce were informed on the 2nd of May last that the Nigerian Government understood that a number of European railway employés had been considering for some time a proposal to place joint orders in England for their personal use, but that the Government had no knowledge of any steps taken or contemplated to give effect to this proposal. The Chamber of Commerce was also informed that any order for foodstuffs emanating from any such organisation could not be endorsed by the local Food Controller for the purpose of affording them priority of treatment in the United Kingdom. Since that date the Governor of Nigeria has heard nothing either of the proposal or the protest from the local merchants.