West Indies Royal Commission 18. Mr. Sorensen asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps he is taking or proposes to take to implement the section in the recommendations of the West India Royal Commission dealing with constitutional reform; and whether he is considering any similar proposals ultimately to be applied to other Colonial possessions? Mr. M. MacDonald As regards the first part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to a similar Question by the hon. Member for Wentworth (Mr. Paling) on 24th April. The views of several of the Governors concerned have now been received and are under consideration. As regards the second part of the Question, the experience gained in this matter in the West Indies will doubtless be of value in connection with constitutional development in the Colonies generally. Mr. Sorensen Has the right hon. Gentleman carefully considered the reports of the Governors and can he say whether he is likely to be in a position to make a statement at an early date? Mr. MacDonald I have considered the reports which have come in from the Governors so far, and I am still waiting for some others. I cannot say when I shall be able to make the statement, but it will be as soon as possible after all the reports have been received. Development Schemes 19. Mr. Creech Jones asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can now state the schemes in the West Indies on which the £350,000 now authorised will be spent? Mr. M. MacDonald As the reply is long and contains a number of figures I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT. Following is the reply: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Reconditioning of drainage in certain areas in the coastal belt; reconditioning of roads; reconditioning of central hospital and alms-houses and certain other buildings in Georgetown| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Construction of a road from Belize to Cayo and certain feeder roads | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Anti-malarial measures, reconditioning of roads and reconditioning of land for land settlement in the country districts | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Minor public works, public health and soil erosion measures | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Improvement of roads and rivers and swamp drainage | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The schemes mentioned above have been approved. Others are now under consideration. Sierra Leone (Youth League) 20. Mr. Creech Jones asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why an official circular was recently issued in Sierra Leone that the Youth League, with Mr. Wallace Johnson in the background, organised, in February, 1939, several strikes accompanied by violence and mutiny amongst some African soldiers in Freetown; and whether he will cause the circular to be withdrawn? Mr. M. MacDonald The substance of the statement to which the hon. Member refers appeared in a bulletin issued by the Government Information Officer in Sierra Leone, which was intended to keep administrative officers and others living at a distance from regular sources of news informed of events. The answer to the last past of the Question is in the negative. Mr. Creech Jones Will the right hon. Gentleman disclaim such a statement in view of the fact that the president of the court-martial made a very emphatic statement that neither the Youth League nor Mr. Wallace Johnson was concerned with organising the mutiny of the troops? Mr. MacDonald All the facts were considered, and I do not see any reason to disclaim the statement in the bulletin. Mr. Creech Jones In view of the fact that this is a most libellous statement against a man who is now in prison and unable to defend himself, will the Secretary of State not make a public declaration that this official declaration is not in accordance with the facts? Mr. MacDonald If the hon. Member has any facts which are at variance with those which I have had at my disposal I shall be glad to have them, but pending the receipt of those facts I cannot alter my view. Mr. Paling Is this one of the allegations on which Wallace Johnson has been interned? Mr. MacDonald No, Sir. Colonial Sugar (Preference) 21. Mr. David Adams asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will state the year on whose exports of sugar the present system of special preference to the producing Colonies was fixed; and whether, since the position of production has changed considerably as between the Colonies concerned, he will consider a change in the system of allotment? Mr. M. MacDonald When the special certificate preference was introduced in 1932 in order to maintain the then existing Colonial sugar industry the allocation of quotas was made on the basis of the average exports in the three years 1928–30. In 1934 the scheme was somewhat modified and revised quotas were fixed which took account both of the original quotas and of increases in exports which had taken place in the interval. I do not think that the present is an opportune time to review these quotas. Mr. Adams Does the Minister not agree that certain of the Colonies appear to be adversely affected at present? Mr. MacDonald I think there certainly would have been a case for considering this question in peace-time, but the war has so altered conditions there, both as regards production and marketing, that I think this is not the time to reconsider it. Mr. Adams I propose to put another Question on the same subject.