§ Mr. Owenasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the Bahamas' Produce Exchange in Nassau; what is its relation to the farmers' association whose produce it markets; and whether he will make a statement.
Mr. MacleodThe Bahamas Produce Exchange is a section of the Agricultural Department controlled by the Board of Agriculture. Its function is to market out-island produce locally and to help the farmers' associations by the provision, on repayment, of seed and fertilisers at cost price. The entire overhead charges are borne by the Bahamas Government and the Exchange itself is operated on a non-profit-making basis.