§ 29. Sir R. HAMILTONasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can state the average wages at present paid for adult male plantation labour in Kenya, distinguishing between raw boys, experienced boys, and head men?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREI have not got the information necessary to give a categorical answer to this question. Rates of wages vary from district to district and in connection with different crops. Such figures as I was able to obtain in East Africa will be published in the East Africa Commission's Report.
§ 30. Mr. SNELLasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if his attention has been called to a speech delivered by the Acting Governor of Kenya at Nairobi, with regard to the question of 13 forcing the natives to work on the land of the white settlers; and will he state the policy of His Majesty's Government with regard to this question?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREI have seen a report in the "Times" of 20th March. It gives what must be a much compressed account of the speech. The policy of the Government in this matter is still that laid down in paragraph 3 (ii) of the despatch sent to the Acting Governor of Kenya on the 5th of September, 1921, published as Cmd. 1509.
§ Mr. SNELLWill the hon. and gallant Gentleman undertake that no alteration will be made in the Order before the matter is discussed in this House?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GORECertainly.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODHas the Acting Governor of Kenya been communicated with in regard to this extraordinary utterance?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREI am not aware that there has been an extraordinary utterance, and in view of the extraordinary misreporting to which I was subjected in Kenya, until I get from the Acting Governor the actual account of his speech, I shall not pay any further attention to it?
§ Colonel WEDGWOODIs not the hon. and gallant Gentleman taking any steps to get from the Acting Governor the actual report of that speech?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREOh, yes; we shall certainly get a full account.