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Palestine

Volume 237: debated on Wednesday 2 April 1930

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Committee Of Inquiry (Evidence)

27.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can now give any information as to the publication of the Report of the Committee of Inquiry into the recent outbreaks in Palestine and as to the publication of the evidence given before such Committee?

As the hon. and gallant Member is now aware, the evidence which is very voluminous will be published in due course, omitting that taken in camera; but I am not in a position to give any date.

Will the evidence be published in ample time before any discussion takes place in this House; and have steps been taken to ensure that all the material placed before the Mandates Commission of the League of Nations will also be available for the British public?

It is very difficult for me to give a positive reply to that question. As the hon. Member is aware, the amount of evidence is very large, and it will require careful indexing, which always takes a lot of time. I can hardly say that it will be published before any discussion in the House, but that is a matter which probably might be mentioned to-morrow.

Postal Rates

28.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the increase in the letter postage rates from Palestine to Great Britain is still in force or not, and what are the present rates on internal letters in Palestine; what additional revenue the Palestine authorities estimated would accrue in a year by the increase, and what they did actually receive in this period; and whether, if the increase is still in existence, it is proposed to remove it and, if so, when?

As from 1st April, 1930, the Palestine Government reverted to the postal rates in force for letters to Great Britain and Northern Ireland prior to March, 1929. When the temporary increase came into force it was estimated that the additional revenue would be at the rate of £2,000 annually. The actual receipts were a little over £1,500, in addition to the revenue obtained from letters sent by members of the British garrison, of which I have no particulars. The rates at present in force for inland letters are:

Five mils for first 20 grammes.

Three mils for each additional 20 grammes or part thereof.

Jerusalem (Situation)

32.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can make any statement as to the present position in Jerusalem?

My Noble Friend has received no report indicating that the position at Jerusalem calls for special comment at the present moment.

Has the hon. Gentleman received a report recently as to whether the special restrictions and regulations which were put in force as a result of the troubles there last year are still in force?

We have received no report of that kind. As far as I am aware they are still in force.

West Indies (Sugar Industry)

29.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what has been the nature of the replies to the communication from the Government announcing their policy in respect of the West Indian sugar industry; and whether any further communications have been made by the Government in response to these replies?

A telegram has just been received from the Governor of the Leeward Islands conveying the text of a resolution from the Antigua Agricultural Society and unofficial members of the Executive Council. The resolution states that the society and unofficial members heartily support the summarised recommendations of the West Indian Sugar Commissioners as being a solution of the sugar problem if given immediate effect, and urges that to prevent distress and destruction of the sugar industry, expenditure by His Majesty's Government in giving effect to the Commissioners' recommendations is reasonable. No reply has yet been returned.

Is it not a fact that all the islands have now rejected the proposals put forward by the Government with regard to the sugar industry; and do the Government propose to adhere to their original intention of doing absolutely nothing for the industry?

I am sorry that I have nothing to add to the statement which I made a few days ago.

Do the replies of the hon. Gentleman really mean that the policy of the Government is to destroy the sugar industry of the West Indies?

21.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any of the improved seedling varieties of sugar cane raised in the West Indies and now in cultivation have been produced in Government establishments?

The majority of the seedling varieties of sugar-cane under commercial cultivation in the West Indian Colonies have been raised by Government Departments of Agriculture, notably those of Barbados and British Guiana. A very large number of seedling varieties, similarly raised by Government establishments, are also under experimental test both on Government experiment stations and on trial plots on estates. A number of seedling varieties of sugar-canes have also been raised upon sugar estates independent of Government institutions, especially in British Guiana, and a small number of such seedlings have possessed commercial possibilities and are being grown on small areas in some sugar-growing Colonies. There have also been introductions by Departments of Agriculture from other cane-growing countries of canes which have been reported upon favourably. A small number of Java seedlings so introduced recently are now under experimental trial in Barbados, Antigua, Trinidad and Jamaica.

Would the hon. Member tell us the name of the best variety, and who originally raised it?

One of the best varieties is Barbados B.H. 10–12, which was produced by the Barbados Department of Agriculture, and the standard variety in British Guiana is D. 625.

Will the hon. Gentleman tell us the parents of that particular variety? I would like to know whether on one side there is not rather a weakness.

I think I have given as much information as the hon. Member can assimilate this afternoon.

Gambia (Industrial Disputes)

30.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has yet received any information from the Governor of the Gambia Colony as to the different treatment awarded by the Government during the recent industrial dispute, to the shipowners' Association and the Bathurst Trade Union, as regards permission to use school premises for meetings?

There has not been time yet for a reply to be received, as the next mail after the hon. Member's previous question left England on 21st March, and has only just reached Bathurst.

Kenya (Native Songs And Dances)

31.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the statement by the Governor of Kenya Colony to the Kikuyu chiefs, in which he strongly supported the prohibition of certain dances and songs among the Kikuyu; and whether this prohibition has the approval of His Majesty's Government?

Yes, Sir; but, as stated in the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend on the 26th March, further information is expected from the Governor of Kenya. From a preliminary telegraphic report it is understood that the prohibition relates to seditious songs and dances of an indecent nature. My Noble Friend naturally supports the local authorities in any proper steps they may take in the interests of public decency and order consistently with the preservation of legitimate freedom of speech and freedom of association.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that a certain amount of apprehension exists among the settlers in regard to any interference with these customs; and will he take that fact into consideration?

I am sorry, but I did not hear the question of the hon. and gallant Gentleman.

Does not the hon. Gentleman consider that many political songs in this country might be considered both seditious and indecent by the other side?

Imperial Conferences

33 and 34.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs (1) whether, and, if so, in what manner, the Colony of Southern Rhodesia will be represented this year at the Colonial Office Conference, the Imperial Conference, or the Imperial Economic Conference; (2) whether, and, if so, in what manner, the Protectorates of Bechuanaland, Basutoland, and Swaziland will be represented this year at the Colonial Office Conference, the Imperial Conference, or the Imperial Economic Conference?

All the points which the hon. Member raises are under consideration, but I am not able to make any statement at present.

46.

asked the Prime Minister whether an opportunity will be given to the House to consider the agenda proposed by the Government for discussion at the forthcoming Imperial Conference?

Until consultation with His Majesty's Governments in the Dominions regarding the agenda for the Imperial Conference is further advanced, it would be premature to make any statement, but the Prime Minister hopes that he may be able to give the House information as to the agenda later on.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the subject to which I referred last week and which he described as a stunt will be considered?