4 JUNE 1948, Page 15

do not wish to appear to crab the groundnut scheme,

because any scheme which leads to development in the colonial Empire we must all wish to be crowned with success, but Mr. Hynd's article is not likely to convince anyone of the efficiency with which the Government have gone about this particular job, partly because he does not appear to be certain of his facts. He writes, "As for the 'expected 150,04)0 acres' to be planted in 1947, the White Paper, far from encouraging such expecta- tions..." Compare this with the following extract from the Review of Progress to the end of z947 (Cmd. 7314): "The aim of the first year's operations was to clear 150,000 acres of bush for planting by the end of 1947." Up to the 1st March last, £7,300,000 had been spent, which is nearly a third of the total estimated expenditure, and about 10,000 acres

cleared and planted.—Yours faithfully, W. A. WELLS, News Editor.

Empire Industries Association and British Empire League, 9 Victoria Street, S.W.r.