HC Deb 15 November 1926 vol 199 cc1519-20
20. Sir ROBERT HAMILTON

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he has received a copy of the instructions recently issued to administrative officers in Kenya with the object of obtaining labour from the native reserves for work on the plantations, and, if so, whether he will place it in the Library?

Mr. AMERY

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the question of the hon. Member for Coat-bridge on 5th July last, and to the memorandum embodied in Section 9 of the Summary of Proceedings of the East African Governors' Conference, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House. I have now approved of that memorandum being adopted by the Government of Kenya as a basis for the guidance of administrative officers in dealing with the question of native labour, but I have no knowledge of any special instructions on the subject having been issued recently. On the contrary, the Governor informed me in July last that it was not the intention to draw up any-such instructions at present, apart from the memorandum. The importation of contract labour is not contemplated.

Sir R. HAMILTON

Will the right hon. Gentleman inquire if such instructions have been issued?

Mr. AMERY

Yes, but my impression is that it is not contemplated to issue any instructions.