The Colonial Development Scheme In the House of . Commons on
Tuesday Mr. Amery explained at length the character of the proposed deve- lopment in the Colonies. The Opposition were inclined at first to receive his remarks ironically, but gradually they became deeply interested. Mr. Amery has become highly accomplished at this kind of exposition.. He said that the last five years had been a period of remarkable progress in the Colonial Empire, and particularly in East Africa. The Colonial Empire now ranked next after India and Australia as our best market. Although rubber growers were still in anxiety, the gloomy prophecies about the effect of abolishing the scheme of restriction had not been fulfilled. Sugar was subject to a price war, but the prospects of cotton were much more favourable. All this development required new equipment, of which the essential part was transport and the extension of railways and roads. Colonies could not possibly find enough money out of their own resources, and the provision of the money, which would certainly fructify in increased trade, would be one of the functions of the proposed Colonial Development Fund foreshadowed by Mr. Baldwin. After describing the research affecting agri- culture, veterinary science and the health and education of natives in tropical territories, Mr. Amery announced the personnel of a Committee which, under the chairman- ship of Sir Warren Fisher, is to consider better contacts between the . Colonial Office and the public services of the Colonies. * * * *
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