31. Mr. BUXTONasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether records are kept of the number of persons compulsorily employed on roads in Kenya under the Roads Ordinance or Native Authority Ordinance; and, if so, how many men were so employed during 1929?
§ Dr. SHIELSRecords are not kept of the number of men called out by headmen for maintenance of roads in native reserves under the Native Authority Ordinance Section 8 (H). The Acting-Governor of Kenya states that no request for compulsory labour on public main roads under Section 8 (0) of the Native Authority Ordinance, which would in any event require the prior approval of my Noble Friend, has been made during 1929; and that no labour has been reported as having been ordered out during the year under the Roads in Native Reserves Ordinance.
Mr. BUXTONAre not these records rendered compulsory by the Forced Labour Convention which His Majesty's Government propose to ratify?
§ Dr. SHIELSYes, Sir, I believe that that is so, but, of course, the hon. Member's question refers to the Department.