MOST IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 84, Issue 44, 22 February 1940, Page 6

MOST IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENT

REVISION OF OLD PRINCIPLE FIFTT MILLION POINDS IX TEX YEARS [ British Official Wireless. | RUGBY, Feb. 20. The Government's statement of policy on colonial development and welfare which was issued as a White Paper represents the most important development in colonial policy for many years. At the same lime as the While Paper the recommendations of the West India Royal Commission were also issued, about which the White Paper says the commission’s important proposal that a central organisation be elected, presided over by a comptroller for further development of the welfare services in the West Indies, has been accepted by the Government. Although the remainder of the commission’s recommenda- j tions are still subject to consultation with the West Indian Administrations, the Government is anxious to act as early as possible in the spirit of the recommendations. The Government proposes providing a special sum of £350 ."hi i for such schemes as can be immediately begun in certain of these colonics. The White Paper continues that some colonics are strengthening their own economic positions and improving social conditions. History of Fund Th'' colonial development fund, . explains, was instij luted in 1929 with a view to “promotmg commerce with or industry in rfie : United Kingdom," and was limited to | a maximum of £1.000.000 in each year. 1 The White Paper emphasises that j the colonies, by improving their eco- ■ nomi • position, can supply their own nd asi ist - 1 ante from Britain should be related : to v. hat the colonies can do for them- ' .-elves. It is essential, therefore, that I there be close co-operation between ■ the Home and colonial Governments, ' and with this aim an expansion of ! the Colonial Office staff has been j made, including a separate social ser- • vices department for dealing with ‘ such services as health, housing and • education. Appreciation is expressed ol the variety of problems and needs and the White Paper says the Government’s policy is not to impose a uni- • form system throughout the colonial i Empire, although development must i proceed upon apbalanced and compreI hensive plan. Colonial Governments I are invited to prepare development i programmes for a period of years j ah< 11 and submit them without loss of time, thus affording the Colonial ! Oitice and its advisory committees a comprehensive view of the needs and proposals for the colonial Empire as ; a whole. Interpreting the Government While ; Paper, an authoritative quarter in ; London pointed out the importance of such far-reaching developments of the i traditional policy of trusteeship, inI voicing an expenditure of £50,000.000 I over the next ten years. It was cm- ‘ phasised that this decision was not taken because of the war and the i grant- were not in the nature of a bribe to the colonics. In fact, the new policy was outlined before the outbreak of hostilities and it was noteworthy that the execution was decided upon in spite of the heavy I financial commitments of Britain in the present struggle. The policy is also considered as the - best possible visible proof of the falsity of the familiar German argument that Britain exploits her : colonies. Financial assistance to the colonies in the form of grants, not a loan, for which the Government is seeking Parliamentary authority, shows that Britain, while far from extracting native tribue to a European war in fact makes the British taxpayer bear an additional burden for the benefit of the social and economic improvement of the welfare of I native peoples. Finally, it is considered as significant evidence of Britain’s confidence that victory is assured if a country in the middle of i war is ready to embark upon a costly I long-term colonial development scheme.