§ 100. Mr. D. Jonesasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the sugar cane grinding factory in British Honduras was about four weeks late in commencing to process the sugar cane; what was the maximum amount ground in any one day 106W in the first month; and what was the maximum subsequently reached.
§ Mr. Profumo:The company was promised delivery of new plant in October, 1956, but deliveries did not in fact commence until November and were not completed until January and the processing of cane was in consequence delayed. In the first month the maximum amount ground on any one day was 513 tons. The maximum daily amount subsequently reached was 708 tons.
§ 101. Mr. D. Jonesasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what was the amount, per day, the factory management of the sugar cane grinding industry undertook to attain in British Honduras.
§ Mr. Profumo:The company's undertaking to Government has been that the factory's capacity shall be kept in excess of the total cane production until the target figure of 28,000 tons of sugar, comprising exports and local consumption, has been reached. This undertaking is not expressed in terms of daily grinding performance.
§ 102. Mr. D. Jonesasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken to improve the cane grinding facilities in the sugar industry in British Honduras.
§ Mr. Profumo:No major additions to factory facilities are planned for the next year's crop because the present capacity is considered to be more than adequate for the estimated crop. The company have undertaken thereafter to ensure that the factory capacity is always ahead of the requirements of the total cane production, and in the meanwhile they have recently strengthened their engineering staff to ensure uninterrupted operation.