DEVELOPING THE COLONIES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 31 May 1930, Page 2

DEVELOPING THE COLONIES

FUNDS AYAIXABLE The first interim report of the Colonial Development Advisory Committee, which was appointed in. July last to consider applications for assistance from the Colonial Development Fund, states that while it has no reason to be dissatisfied with the progress thus far realised it is not convinced that a sufficient number of new projects ,'of a sufficiently ambitious character will be coming forward for consideration to enable full advantage .to be taken of .the. wide vision with which Parliament has offered £1,000,000 each year' fpr the purposes of colonial development. During the seven months the committee, has been at work it. had 60'applications' from 25 colonial Administrations for assistance. In a majority of cases the committee has been able to make a favourable recommendation. The cost of the projects approved to the end of February is estimated at £5,629,000 spread lover five years. Expenditure to be incurred in Britain hi connection with the projects is £2,288,000. The total assistance by grant and loans to be provided from the Colonial Development Fund is £1,369,000. The Zambesi Bridge and ancillary services for the development of Nyasaland are estimated to cost over £3,000,000.; The cost of a scheme to work iron ore «e----posits in Sierra Leone, together with a railway 53 miles long to deep water, is put at £1,000,000. The report says that the Colonial Office is again communicating with the oversea Governments urging them to take steps at the earliest possible date to ensure that full use is made of the valuable facilities for financing development works which His Majesty's Government has presented to the Colonial Empire. It is understood also that advantage will be taken of the presence of Governors and other senior officials at the Colonial Office Conference, which is to be held in London in May and June of this year, to discuss the general question of the operation of the Colonial Development Act and to, obtain their views on the possible uses of the f\md both in relation to individual colonies and in general.