Scheme To Assist Colonial Empire

Northern Advocate, 22 February 1940, Page 6

Scheme To Assist Colonial Empire

LONDON, February 20. The Government proposes that in appropriate cases money should be made available to colonial Governments for the maintenance of important works or services over a substantial period of years. It will introduce legislation to replace the Colonial Development Fund —which is limited to a maximum of £1,000,000 a year—by new arrangements, providing in a new vote in the estimate for as instance ro C; ’cnial Govji nments up to a maximum of £5,000,000 a year for ten years. This -distance will be available not only for schemes involving capital expenditure necessary for colonial development in the widest sense, but also for helping to meet current expenditure in the colonies on cei'Min services such as agriculture, education, health and housing. Separate provision is also to be made for colonial research up to a maximum of £500,000 a year, to be administered with the assistance of a new Research Advisory Committee. These measures of assistance by the taxpayers of the United Kingdom will be extended, without distinction, not only to all British colonies and protectorates, but also to all territories administered by the Government under the mandatory system. The High Commission territories in South Africa will be included.