SECOND GRANT TO CEYLON

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 26986, 11 March 1953, Page 10

SECOND GRANT TO CEYLON

N.Z. DECIDES TO GIVE £250,000 HELP UNDER COLOMBO PLAN (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, March Id. The Minister of External Affairs (Mr T. C. Webb) announced today that the Government had decided to make a second contribution of £250,000 to Ceylon under the Colombo Plan. A similar grant, made to Ceylon in 1952. was being used to meet the capital costs of developing a dry farming research station at Maha Illuppallama, 70 miles north-west of Kandy, and favourable reports on the progress made in the use of that grant had been received, said Mr Webb. The second New Zealand contribution would make it possible to complete the programme for developing the research -station. The task of the station required an intensive study of soils, water resources, and new agricultural methods, said the Minister. Its main work was to find the most suitable crops to grow in the dry zone of Ceylon, which occupied about two-thirds of the area of the country, and supported less than a quarter of the population. Ceylon’s population increase was tending to outstrip the growth of agriculture. “By sponsoring research which aims to make the dry zone productive. New Zealand’s capital assistance to Ceylon is therefore being provided at a strategic point, with wide implications for the economic and social development of Ceylon as a whole.” the Minister concluded.