HC Deb 11 December 1935 vol 307 cc889-90
21. Mr. LUNN

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, with a view to preventing the over-recruiting of natives in British colonies and protectorates for work away from their own homes, he will secure the appointment of labour departments in all such territories.

Mr. THOMAS

With the possible exception of dependencies in the Western Pacific there is comparatively little actual recruiting of natives for work away from their homes, in the Colonies and Protectorates for the affairs of which I am responsible, and I am satisfied that in those dependencies there are adequate arrangements for ensuring that no over recruiting takes place. I may, however, mention that the attention of all Colonial Governments was recently drawn, by my predecessor, to the importance of ensuring that there are adequate arrangements, whether by the creation of labour departments or otherwise, for the regular inspection of the conditions of employment in the territories under their Administration.

Mr. LUNN

Will the right hon. Gentleman, now that he is Secretary of State for the Colonies, give consideration to this matter of the establishment of a Labour Department in each of the Colonies?

Mr. THOMAS

I have already done that. In a later answer I show that I am giving special attention to it.

Colonel WEDGWOOD

Does the right hon. Gentleman mean that there is extensive recruitment in Northern Rhodesia for work on the copper belt, or does his answer refer to recruitment for other areas?

Mr. THOMAS

I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to the answer I have given.

Mr. McENTEE

What does the right hon. Gentleman mean by "comparatively little"? Can he give us any figures which would enable us to judge?

Mr. THOMAS

I could not give any figures, but it would be little compared with previously existing methods.

Colonel WEDGWOOD

Surely the right hon. Gentleman must know whether his answer referred to recruitment for the territories concerned or for outside territories. That is what we want to know—whether it is extensive recruitment in Northern Rhodesia for the copper belt in Northern Rhodesia or for outside areas?

Mr. THOMAS

The right hon. Gentleman has obviously not read the question. It does not refer to any particular Colony but to the Colonies as a whole, and I answered the question as applying to the Colonies as a whole. If my right hon. Friend puts a question on Northern Rhodesia, I will answer it.