§ Mr. Rileyasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he has any information regarding the decision of the Government of Southern Rhodesia to offer European maize growers a guaranteed price for maize and a bonus of 2s. per bag if the maize is grown under prescribed conditions: and whether the guaranteed price and bonus will be available for native cultivators also?
§ Mr. Emrys-EvansThe arrangements for the control of the sale of maize in Southern Rhodesia are governed by legislation passed by the Southern Rhodesia Parliament in 1940. This legislation provides that in the case of maize grown by natives the price to be paid by purchasers shall be fixed each year by the Minister, and the native is therefore assured of a guaranteed price. No provision was made for guaranteed price to Europeans but I understand that it is now proposed that a special guaranteed price and bonus should be paid in respect of maize produced by European farmers and surrendered to the Maize Control Board. The bonus is subject to certain conditions relating to contour ridging and the growing of green manure crops and leguminous crops in order to encourage sound farming practice.