§ Mr. Gammansasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies from what company the Government bought the remainder of the lease of Christmas Island; and what plant, machinery, buildings and other similar equipment, erected by the company, was covered by the £50,000 sterling paid for the lease.
§ Mr. J. GriffithsThe lease was bought from the Central Pacific Cocoanut Plantations Company Limited and the purchase included all the plant property, machinery, buildings, works and other assets of the company. The value of such equipment was, however, small as the company suspended operations in 1939. Since then the plantations have been worked by the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Government and are now producing about 1,000 tons of copra a year to the value of about £50,000.