§ 71. Mr. R. Robinsonasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken to develop the manufacture of coir fibre for producing bags for coffee and cocoa in the West Indies.
§ Mr. HopkinsonThe Jamaica Government recently granted concessions under the Pioneer Industries (Encouragement) Law, 1949, to a local company which has begun production of a coir fibre suitable for making coffee and cocoa bags. Coir fibre is produced in the other West Indian Colonies which have a substantial coconut industry, but the trade has so far been limited to producing a fibre for upholstery. It is still doubtful whether coir fibre bags can be produced at a price competitive with imported jute bags.