COLONIAL DEVELOPMENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20963, 28 February 1930, Page 9

COLONIAL DEVELOPMENT

CONFERENCE to be held

the principal subjects.

(British Official Wireless.) (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph-— Copyright.)

- RUGBY, February 26. Following the success of the first Colonial Office conference, held in May, 1927, the Colonial Secretary has decided to summon 'a , second conference with similar objects, to be constituted on similar lines. ■ The conference will meet on June 23, and sit for about.three weeks. It will be attended by one representative, each from as many of the colonies,, protectorates, and mandated territories as is practicable. It is hoped that-In a large number of cases the Governor will be able to act as the representative of his territory; while in other cases sonic senior official of the territory will be deputed. The work of the conference will fall under three main headings, namely, colonial development (under which is included the very important question of the working and application of the Colonial Development Fund), the administration of the scientific and technical services, and the problems of colonial administration in general.

Replying to questions in the House of Commons, Dr Shiels. (Under-secretary for the Colonies) said the conference will consider the question of unofficial representation at future colonial conferences.

Answering a question regarding the colonial development schemes. Dr Shiels said that a preliminary application for assistance from the Colonial Development Fund had been made by the High Commissioner for ’transport for Kenya and Uganda in connection with the proposal to extend the Kenya-Uganda railway westwards to the Uganda-Congo border. Arrangements would be made in the usual way toVehsure that the plant, machinery, and material imported into East - Africa in connection with any such projects would, save in exceptional circumstances, be of British manufacture and origin. In regard <to Nigeria, no services had yet / been arranged as objects for assistance from the Colonial Development Fund, as that colony had just floated a new loan to be devoted to work of public utility.