There was an interesting discussion in the House of P ommons
on Wednesday on cotton-growing in the Empire, in which both sides showed a commendable interest. Mr. pmmott, speaking on behalf of the British Cotton-Growing Association, thanked the Government for the assistance they had given, and pointed out that the only barrier to making our Central African territories a great cotton- producing region lay in the labour question. Mr. Lyttelton, in an interesting speech, summarised the steps which have been taken in this work throughout the Empire. Egypt, thanks to Lord Cromer, sends us a good supply, and there is every hope that cotton-growing may be established in the Soudan. Experiments are being made in Rhodesia and other parts of %nth Africa, but the West Coast of Africa is the chief centre of promise. It has been arranged that the Cotton-Growing Association shall contribute B30,000 a year for the work, and that Southern Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Lagos shall provide £6,500 for three years. No better work in the cause of Imperialism could be undertaken, for on its success depends the future of some of our chief tropical possessions.
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