HC Deb 16 October 1952 vol 505 cc37-8W
Mr. Dugdale

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Government of Fiji has yet decided what action it will take consequent upon the rejection by the Colonial Development Corporation of its proposals for raising livestock.

Mr. Lyttelton

No. There are numerous other competing demands on Fiji's limited financial resources which must be considered, and a committee, largely composed of Unofficial Members of the Legislative Council is being set up to review all the economic projects in the Colony's Development Plan, including schemes for raising livestock to increase local meat supplies. Meanwhile closer examination of the Colonial Development Corporation's final proposals for the scheme at Ra has shown that it would have meant the displacement from their lands of a considerable number of people. This fact and the financial difficulties involved make it most unlikely that this scheme will be adopted, but alternative proposals are being investigated by the Government of Fiji.