HC Deb 27 July 1943 vol 391 c1404W
Sir A. Knox

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the advice of the planters has been sought and their recommendations adopted regarding the steps necessary in order to increase the output of rubber in the shortest possible time?

Colonel Stanley

Where there is an established rubber industry, the advice and co-operation of local planters have been sought as a matter of course. For instance, in Ceylon the Rubber Commissioner is assisted by an advisory board on which sit experienced local planters. In other Colonies where the rubber estates have, through peacetime economic causes, been allowed to become derelict, experienced planters have been recruited to supervise the' clearing of the estates and to bring them into production. Missions composed of experienced planters have also been despatched from this country and South Africa to advise Colonial Governments.