BRITISH COLONIES

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 239, 4 July 1940, Page 9

BRITISH COLONIES

Development And Welfare Bill (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, July 2. In the House of Lords, Lord Lloyd, Colonial Secretary, in his maiden speech as Minister, moved the second reading of Hie Colonial Development and Welfare Bill, which lias already been passed in the House of Commons. He said it was desirable that the Bill should be placed on the .Statute Book now because it definitely embodies new principles which constituted a real landmark in colonial history. Parliament would 'be asked to vote each year amounts which it was expected would be spent, under the Bill. Parliament would have direct responsibility. At the moment all energies must he concentrated on prosecuting the war, and therefore, for much they hoped to do under the Bill they might have to wait, but if tlie Bill became law such developments as were possible would not be held up for lack of funds. The Colonial Office announces that Sir Frank Stockdale, Agricultural Adviser to the Secretary for the Colonies, has been appointed comptroller for the development and welfare of the West Indies.

Sir Frank Stockdale, who has been a member of 'the governing body of the Imperial College of Agriculture since 1929, visited most parts of the colonial Empire, including the West Indies, in 1933-31.