A REVIEW

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20523, 13 June 1938, Page 7

A REVIEW

THE COLONIAL EMPIRE SOME IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS BRITISH GOVERNMENT REPORT (Official \fireless.) RUGBY, June li A report on Britain's colonial Empire in 1937-38, containing a review on broad lines —but not intended to be exhaustive—of the more important developments in the colonial dependencies, has been issued in fulfilment of the undertaking given in the House of Commons on the colonial estimates. The largest part of the report is devoted to matters of general interest, such as defence, the Colonial Service, economics and finance, agriculture, forestry, public health, education and labour questions. On defence it is noted that the Governments of Ceylon, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone passed legislation for establishing naval and volunteer defence forces, and the Government of the Gold Coast is making similar provision. Frontier Force Re-organlsed The re-organisalion of the Royal West African Frontier Force is nearing completion, and similar re-organ-isation lias been taken in hand in various other African possessions. The Straits Settlements volunteer Air Force is to be expanded. The report mentions with appreciation, the number of colonial gifts toward the cost of Imperial defence. On 111 e economic position the report says that during the greater part of 1937 prices of the most important exports from colonial territories were high compared with the level of prices in recent years and, in some cases, compared with the costs of production. The year, .therefore, was one of prosperity for the producers and the Governments. Toward the end of the year, however, prices began to decline seriously, and the decline was continued during 1938. Avoiding Labour Trouble It is made clear in the' report that the steps being taken in many colonies to set up machinery such as special labour departments, or inspectorates, arc calculated to obviate the possibility of an outbreak of labour trouble owing to lack nr ventilation of grievances and proper conciliation machinery. Considerable progress has been made in many of Hie colonial dependencies in improving labour conditions. It. is still necessary, however, for many colonial Legislatures to review their existing enactments to bring their labour codes up to the levels now held to be consonant with modern conditions and outlook.