7. Mr. Creech Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether there are any difficulties in the Colony of Southern Rhodesia for the ratification of the International Labour Office Convention on the Recruitment of Native Labour; how soon can this convention be ratified so far as it relates to the British protectorates, and whether any reservations or modifications are called for; and what is the policy of the Government to the Union of South Africa as far as recruitment in the protectorates is concerned?
Mr. M. MacDonaldI have been informed by the Government of Southern Rhodesia that they are prepared to accept the obligations of the Convention without modification. The question of the terms on which the Convention can be applied to the High Commission Territories in South Africa is still under consideration in consultation with the authorities concerned in the Union of South Africa.
Mr. Creech JonesWill the right hon. Gentleman take steps to speed up the consideration of this matter, seeing that it has been under consideration for so long?
Mr. MacDonaldThe matter is receiving very careful and active consideration now, and I do not think that any further speeding up is required.
Mr. MacDonaldThe last part is really involved in the last part of the answer I have given. The whole question of recruitment, so far as it is related to the Convention, is now under consideration with the authorities in the Union, and, pending the completion of that examination, it would be impossible to make any statement.