asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action is being taken by the Government of Uganda to encourage the development of the Cooperative movement among Africans.

Mr. Creech Jones:

The Government of Uganda enacted a Co-operative Societies Ordinance in 1946 and a Registrar of Cooperative societies has been appointed with a small staff. The Uganda Development Plan includes provision for an average annual expenditure of £10,000 on the development of Co-operation and £70,500 for non-recurrent expenditure.

That is quite helpful, but will my right hon. Friend keep in mind, as I am sure he will, that there are two distinct sections here—the Indian traders who are not very interested in the Cooperative movement and also the growing vice of landlordism among the Africans themselves—and that the only people who can be helpful are the Government?

Mr. Creech Jones:

Yes, Sir, but that hardly arises out of the Question on the Paper.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that before the arrival of any white men in Uganda there was a developed economic system there, and is it not sometimes unwise to try to teach one's African grandmother to suck European eggs?