asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies in view of the world shortage of vegetable fats, if he will consider favourably encouraging production of West African oil palms in the Cameroons, British Guiana and British Honduras.

The West African Oilseeds Mission, whose report is being published today, recommend increased production of palm oil and palm kernels in the Cameroons. The Board of the Cameroons Development Corporation will be considering this recommendation. They are fully conscious of the shortage of vegetable fats. Attempts have been made to establish oil palms in British Guiana at intervals since 1913, but without success. Renewed experiments were made just before the war. The indications continue unpromising, but it is too early to pronounce finally on the agricultural possibilities. According to my information, no attempts have been made to establish oil palms in British Honduras and I am in consultation with the Governor as to the possibility of experiments.