§ 63. Mr. Palingasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the widespread labour unrest in the West Indies and with a view to avoiding the outbreak of disturbances such as those which recently occurred in Trinidad, he will consider the appointment of a commission to review labour conditions throughout the West Indies or, in the alternative, the establishment of labour departments in each of the Colonies concerned?
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreI have recently communicated with all Colonial Governors asking them to review the arrangements for the supervision of labour conditions which obtain in the territories under their administration. In my despatch, a copy of which I am having placed in the Library of the House, I have emphasised the desirability of setting up adequate Government machinery for this purpose where it does not already exist, and I have set out what I consider should be the main duties and responsibilities of the officers of the Colonial Administrations who are entrusted with the supervision of labour conditions. In certain of the West Indian Colonies, labour departments or inspectorates have now been set up.
§ Mr. PalingDoes that mean that something in the nature of a labour department is actually to be set up?
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreYes, Sir.
§ Lieut.-Commander FletcherCan the right hon. Gentleman say what is the position in Trinidad at the moment?
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreI am afraid it is unsatisfactory.
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreCertainly to some of them. Major Orde Brown is now on his way to Northern Rhodesia to go into the formation of labour departments and similar action is being taken elsewhere.