§ 65. Mr. Stonehouseasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the average wage of children of fourteen years or under in tobacco grading establishments and tobacco sales floors in Northern Rhodesia.
§ Mr. ProfumoI have consulted the Governor and will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT full information when it is available. I can, however, say now that the employment of children under twelve years of age in industrial undertakings is prohibited by Section 4 of the Employment of Women, Young Persons and Children Ordinance, and it seems probable that tobacco grading establishments should be regarded as industrial undertakings, for the purpose of that Section: there are no tobacco auction floors.
The Governor has, however, informed me that, as a result of his inquiries, it has been reported that up to 150 children whose age may be about ten years are employed in tobacco grading establishments in the Eastern Province; the period of their employment is three or four months each year, and their average monthly wage is 11s. 3d. plus mid-day meals and rations worth about 12s. This apparent infringement of the law is now under investigation.