20. Mr. Creech Jonesasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make representations to the Government of the Union of South Africa flat, in return for the concession of recruitment of labour for the Rand from British Colonial territories, that Government should ratify the International Labour Office convention on the recruitment of Native labour?
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreNo, Sir. The question of the ratification of the Convention in respect of the Union of South 1754 Africa is entirely a matter for His Majesty's Government in the Union.
Mr. Creech JonesIn view of the fact that the Government are now issuing licences for recruitment in certain British Colonial territories for work in the Union, will not the right hon. Gentleman make representations to the Union that this Convention should be ratified before the labour is supplied?
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreI have no constitutional position under the Statute of Westminster to communicate in any way with the Government of the Union of South Africa. This is entirely a matter for the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs, to whom such questions should be addressed.
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreNo. This is entirely a matter for him, and if the hon. Member will put a question to my right hon. Friend, he will no doubt answer for that for which he is responsible.
Mr. Creech JonesBefore further licences are granted for recruitment for the Rand, will the right hon. Gentleman take into consideration the fact that the Union of South Africa have not ratified the International Labour Office Convention?
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreI have already made my opinion quite clear on that in answer to many previous questions.