Sir Douglas Hacking: I would ask my hon. Friend to await the Debate on to-morrow's Motion on Migration by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Chelmsford (Captain Macnamara). I hope to deal with the present position in the course of that Debate.
Sir Douglas Hacking: I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave last Tuesday to the hon. Member for Rothwell (Mr. Lunn), to which I have nothing to add.
Sir Douglas Hacking: The position is that these proclamations are in force but that, as stated in the Press, application has been made by the acting-chief, Tshekedi, for permission to take proceedings against the High Commissioner in the Special Court of the Bechuanaland Protectorate on the ground that the proclamations are ultra vires in terms of the Order-in-Council of 9th May, 1891. The application has been...
Sir Douglas Hacking: Funds have been provided either from the Colonial Development Fund or from general revenue for the proposals relating to the economic development of the Bechuanaland Protectorate recommended in Sir Alan Pim's report. In the case of Basutoland, approval has been given for the provision of assistance from the Colonial Development Fund for the proposals in the report relating to an ecological...
Sir Douglas Hacking: I do not think that arises out of this question.
Sir Douglas Hacking: The question of the development of the forest resources of Newfoundland has been under constant and serious consideration since the establishment of the Commission of Government, and a number of measures have been taken to that end during the last 18 months. It has not, however, been thought expedient as yet to levy taxation on the lines recommended in the Report of the Royal Commission. It...
Sir Douglas Hacking: It has not been scrapped, but the Commission of Government are obviously in the best position to consider this matter impartially. It is hoped that it will not be necessary for any representation to be made from this end.
Sir Douglas Hacking: Oh, no, Sir; they have not turned down any proposal of the kind indicated. They have given consideration, and are still giving consideration to everything that may help to develop the resources of the country.
Sir Douglas Hacking: Two Command Papers, No. 4788 and No. 4910, which were issued in January and May of this year respectively, outlined the steps which the Commission of Government are taking to deal with the economic situation in the Island. In July of this year a number of further reductions were made in the customs tariff with the object of relieving the poorer sections of the community, and, in this...
Sir Douglas Hacking: I cannot say when the Commission are likely to conclude their operations. I hope that, as a result of the meeting which will take place shortly between my right hon. Friend and certain members of the Commission of Government, it may be possible to make some further statement.
Sir Douglas Hacking: I cannot make any statement on that subject at the present time.
Sir Douglas Hacking: I have already referred to a certain setback that has taken place recently. It is difficult to deal with a setback of that character, which was purely economic, but I hope that there will be an improvement very shortly.
Sir Douglas Hacking: There have been no recent developments in the position. I can assure the House that the question of the relations between the Irish Free State and this country is very present in the mind of my right hon. Friend. His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom will lose no opportunity of improving the relations between the two countries.
Sir Douglas Hacking: I really cannot add anything to the answer I have given. It is sufficient to say at this moment that we shall lose no opportunity of bringing the two countries closer together.
Sir Douglas Hacking: As regards reservists' pay I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on this question to my hon. Friend, the Member for Wallsend (Miss Ward) on 24th June last, to which I am unable to add. Soldiers' pensions, with a few exceptions, are already paid weekly through Post Offices.
Sir Douglas Hacking: The ship could not be detained in order to grant a few days' leave to the men without dislocating the trooping programme and causing expense to the taxpayer. It is hoped that some eight to ten hours will be available between the arrival and the departure of the ship, and arrangements are being made for a reunion of members of the battalion and their relatives and friends at the docks. I must...
Sir Douglas Hacking: The expense for the detention of the ship alone for four days would be £1,200. But that is not the only factor. It would be impracticable to give these men leave for that short space of time.
Sir Douglas Hacking: Eggs do not form part of the soldier's ration. The eggs on sale to the troops in the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes at Bulford and elsewhere are home, Empire and foreign, and I cannot prevent the troops and their families from buying foreign eggs if they wish to do so.
Sir Douglas Hacking: We give every encouragement possible for home eggs to be sold.
Sir Douglas Hacking: That is true. If the canteen did not stock foreign eggs, the only effect would be that the families would go outside to purchase their supplies of such eggs. We cannot prevent them from purchasing foreign eggs if they so desire.