Other Groundnut Schemes

in Africa and Elsewhere What the Colonial Develop ment Corporation is Doing

ALTHOUGH Fiji and the Western Pacific High Commission terri tories have had some assistance from the Colonial Development Fund since the war, these schemes are very small potatoes in contrast with what the Colonial Development Corporation has undertaken in Africa and elsewhere. Some of the projects are showing a profit but many of them are by way of being minor ‘groundnut schemes” and will be a drain on the unfortunate British laxpayer for years to come.

The projects of the Corporation ire, of course, just not a matter of Raking profits—but it is quite ap >arent now that many of them were he brainstorms of Whitehall plan ters and that they would have had nore chance of success if the Euro leans. With long experience in the •espective countries had been con ulted.

Here are some of the projects the Corporation has engaged in, and the

results—all money quoted is Sterling

—(condensed from New Common

wealth of June 9).

EAST AFRICA: A profit of £36,000 was made from the edible oil refining: plant.

The sulphuric acid plant has been closed down. Investigations are proceeding as to the commercial possibilities of ramie fibre. Consignments of rootstocks from America have been planted in Kenya and Tanganyika.

Tanganyika road transport company has been reorganised during the year. Un servicable vehicles have been replaced by new ones. Nett loss for year, £34,401.

Good progress has been made with the wattle scheme; further areas cleared and planted (no other details of this project).

In Uganda, Lake Victoria Hotel, Ltd. (in which the Corporation has a con trolling interest), made a profit for the year of £3,248.

The Northern Rhodesian Cement works came into production and it is proposed to build another kiln which will treble production by 1954.

Corporation reviewed the tung oil ex periment which they took over from the Nyasaland government in 1948. Nearly £SVz million was estimated for carrying the scheme to full development under the original plan. It has been decided to limit scheme to 5,000 acres of tung, which should be developed with the £1,410,000 already approved. Crops have failed on the adjacent rice farm (which was to feed the tung workers) for the third year in succession. It is concluded that “mechanical production of staple cereals with European skilled staff and

attendant overhead is unprofitable in Nyasaland”.

WEST AFRICA: The first village in a Nigerian peasant settlement scheme has been settled with 78 families and farms.

"While the social and political progress has been satisfactory, it will be more difficult to make a scheme of this kind pay than was originally expected".

On expert advice a sack-making factory

and cotton spinning project for Nigeria has been dropped.

Nearly £17,000 profit was made for the year on the operations of the Omo Saw mills of Nigeria, Ltd.

Results from West African Fisheries and Cold Store were disappointing—there was a trading loss for the year of £27,717.

The catches of fish were not big enough.

In Gambia, results from the rice farm

were again nil, but a mission sent the in February—although critical of costs recommended continuing the experime on a smaller scale. An epidemic of Ne castle disease wiped out the Gambi poultry farm flock in 1951 (this was t scheme to supply cheap eggs to Britai but an experimental farm is bell established elsewhere. The total loss < the Gambler egg experiment, to dal

Is £Boo,Ooo.

The Bechuanaland Cattle Ranch w need an extra £200,000 capital in 19 and it is, expected that receipts from sal of cattle will not become substantial f four or more years.

The Corporation has plans for i abattoir and cold store for Sou Bechuanaland and a 108,000 acre i afforestation plan for Swaziland.

FALKLAND ISLANDS (South Atlantic The abattoir and freezer being built Falkland Is. should be finished by 191 but "heavy over-expenditure” has reduc its commercial prospects. The fin capitalisation is estimated at at lea £450,000. The Corporation is now 100 ing for partners and managers with loc experience.

The Corporation made a loss of £23,4 last year on the South Atlantic Sealii Co. They do not expect a profit for ti more years.

Mr. Don Beachcomber, wel known Honolulu restaurant pr< prietor, made a business visit i Tahiti in August, travelling 1: TEAL from Fiji.