HC Deb 28 July 1960 vol 627 cc185-6W
94. Mr. Biggs-Davison

asked the Secretray of State for the Colonies in what circumstances the Rhodesian Selection Trust's offer of £90,000, as a free gift for the development of the coffee industry in the Northern Province of Nyasaland, was declined; and whether he will make a statement.

Mr. Iain Macleod

The Nyasaland Government proposed to devote these funds to a scheme to increase coffee production in the Northern Province, under the direction of a Development Board with a majority of African members elected by coffee growers' co-operative societies. The scheme was at first welcomed by growers but subsequently, as a result of advice given by officials of the Malawi Congress Party, the cooperative societies declined to nominate their members and the scheme had to be abandoned.