Sir RENNELL RODD asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the Crisis in the Sugar Industry in the West Indies, his Department has given attention to the manufacture from sugar-cane pulp in Florida and Louisiana of a new material known as celotex, which has proved so valuable as a lining for buildings that the extract of sugar from the cane is becoming a secondary consideration?

Captain P. MACDONALD asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can state the action which has been taken locally by the Governments of the West Indies for the purpose of meeting the Crisis in the Sugar Industry there?

Mr. RENNIE SMITH: I notice in the Estimates that grants amounting to £112,000 have been made to British Guiana for the relief of unemployment arising from the Crisis in the Sugar Industry, and I would ask the Under-Secretary to tell us something about the conditions to which those grants are subject.

What I drew attention to was this: In the Estimates are grants for expenditure in relief of unemployment due to the Crisis in the Sugar Industry in the West Indies.

The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Dr. Drummond Shiels): In view of the existing Crisis in the Sugar Industry, His Majesty's Government have agreed to the suspension for the year 1931–32 of the annual War contribution of £60,000 paid by Jamaica.

Mr. RAMSDEN asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can make any statement on the Sugar Industry Crisis in Mauritius, including the amount of sugar grown per acre, the price f.