§ 71. Mr. Sorensenasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies in view of the great hardship caused in Sierra Leone by the increasing cost of living, what action is being taken to meet this problem.
§ Mr. Lyttelton:It would be wrong to assume that the bulk of the population, namely, the farmers, who are receiving good prices for their produce, are suffering hardship in consequence of the rise in the cost of living. The effects of the rise are felt mainly by the wage-earning and urban communities. Substantial wage increases have been awarded to the lower paid workers during the last six months. The Sierra Leone Government is fully aware of the problem and the measures it is taking include control of the retail price of rice, purchase of stocks of rice for release when supplies are short, and various schemes for increased local production of staple foodstuffs.