§ 49. Mr. Rileyasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware of the charges recently made by residents in Kingston, Jamaica, regarding unemployment and social conditions in the island; that thousands of children are roaming the country districts unable to go to school because of the lack of food and clothing; that recently hundreds of ragged men, women, and children marched to the prison in Kingston pleading for admission so as to get fed; and that a contemplated hunger march has been prohibited by the police and the organisers threatened with prosecution; and can he make a statement regarding these charges?
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreI have received no information from Jamacia regarding the matters referred to, but I have asked the Governor by telegraph for a report. I will communicate with the hon. Member when the reply is received.
§ Mr. RileyHas the right hon. Gentleman seen the correspondence in last Saturday's "Manchester Guardian" in relation to this matter, with detailed charges of discontent; and in view of the fairly widespread social discontent in the West Indies recently, does he not think it advisable to have some wide survey by a commission and a report on the situation?
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreI have already announced in the House that the new 1123 Labour Adviser to the Colonial Office is going to make his first visit to the West Indies.