§ 14. Mr. LANSBURYasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the Governor of Sierra Leone, in the proclamation asking railway strikers to resume work, did not inform those concerned that he intended to discriminate against certain men because of specially bad conduct; will he state the total number of men who went on strike, and the number reinstated and now at work; is he yet able to state what was the actual cause of the strike; will he now inform the House the nature of the specially bad conduct alleged against certain men; the total number of such men, showing the number pensionable and non-pensionable; and whether, in view of the importance attaching to this question both for the workers in Sierra Leone and the good faith of his Department and the Governor, he will reconsider his decision and order a public inquiry into all the circumstances leading up to the strike and the terms of settlement?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. Amery)I am satisfied that the Governor gave sufficient notice to those pensionable officers who had been dismissed that they would not be readmitted to the Government service. I am unable to give the numbers of the strikers and those now at work. As regards the actual cause of the strike, I have to refer the hon. Member to my 1628 reply to his question of the 11th February. I understand that the Governor is sending a despatch in regard to the conduct of the men who have been dismissed. The number of pensionable officers included is 37. I do not know the number of non-pensionable, if any. So far as I am aware, the good faith of my Department and of the Governor is not seriously impugned, and I do not see my way to reconsider my decision not to institute an inquiry into the circumstances of the strike and its settlement.
§ Mr. LANSBURYWill the right hon. Gentleman put on the Table a copy of the Proclamation issued by the Governor in order that this thing may be brought to the test; and as to whether the men were or were not deceived by the Governor in going back?
§ Mr. AMERYI think it would be very undesirable to state all details. It is a case in which we must depend upon the judgment of the Governor. After I have seen the despatch I will be able to give a further explanation.
§ Mr. LANSBURYI am not asking for a lot of details. I am only asking specifically one thing, and that is, that we shall know, whether, in fact, the Governor did or did not say that he was going to discriminate against certain people? That is the one question to which I should like an answer.
§ Mr. AMERYAs I understand it, the Governor issued a very definite notice to the effect that those who had taken a provisional part in getting up the strike would not be restored to the service. When I get further information from the Governor I will consider whether or not the proclamation shall be laid on the Table, or is one which I can send to the hon. Member.
§ Mr. LANSBURYWhen is the right hon. Gentleman likely to get this Report, because I have been asking for it for three weeks?
§ Mr. AMERYThe actual strike only came to a conclusion quite recently. I understood that a despatch from the Governor is on its way, or is likely to be sent off next week. It will be here within the next month or so.
§ Mr. HANNONOn a point of Order. Are questions of this kind not calculated to make considerable difficulty in our administration abroad?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI have only to consider whether or not it is a proper question.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODWill the right hon. Gentleman consider letting us have a copy of the instructions sent to the Governor of Sierra Leone with regard to the strike, in order to dissipate the idea that the instructions of the Colonial Office have not been faithfully curried out?