§ 10. Mr. LANSBURYasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the labour dispute at Sierra Leone has yet been settled; is he aware that the origin of the dispute is the decision of the new railway manager to impose new conditions of periodical examination on workpeople without first of all either consulting those concerned or their representatives; that this manager "threatened wholesale dismissals, declaring that the service was quite inefficient; and that the occasion of the outbreak was the dismissal of station-masters and others without giving them adequate opportunity to defend themselves?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. Amery)The Governor has now reported that the men returned to work on 26th February. The complaint mentioned by the hon. Member was referred to in a statement of grievances formulated by the union after the dispute had begun, but it does not appear that this was the cause of the strike. The examinations were introduced to ensure a reasonable modicum of efficiency in the traffic staff; and I am aware that a warning was given that inefficient officers could not be retained in the service indefinitely. As regards the older men, the intention was to exempt them from the annual examinations if they showed a real desire to improve. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.
§ Mr. LANSBURYWill the right hon. Gentleman call for a full report as to the origin of this dispute, and is he aware that the Colonial newspapers give an entirely different version from that which he has just given to the House?