§ 81. Mr. AMMONasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Act for the indenture of native juvenile's passed by the Rhodesian Parliament has yet received the sanction of His Majesty's Government; and whether, before consent is given, opportunity to consider the proposals in the Act as to the ages and sex of the indentured children and the punishments prescribed will be given to the British Parliament?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. Ormsby-Gore)The matter is in no way within the sphere of the Colonial Office, but I am asked to state that it was explained in the reply given to the hon. Member for East Woolwich (Mr. Snell) on the 14th February that it was not proposed that His Majesty should be advised to exercise his power of disallowance in respect of the Southern Rhodesia Native Juveniles Employment Act. The Act accordingly came into operation last June.
§ Mr. AMMONIn view of the importance of the charge that child slavery is being established in the British Empire, and that children of both sexes are treated practically as slaves, is it not worth while to give further information?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREI could not possibly accept that description of what the Act of the Southern Rhodesian Parliament has done.
§ Mr. AMMONIs the hon. Gentleman not aware that it has been stated that the 370 mica fields are being wholly run by child labour of both sexes, and that the farmers themselves claim that they have secured the passing of this Act whereby quite little children are being hired out as indentured slaves?