§ 62 and 64. Mr. Gallacherasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) whether it is proposed to issue instructions without delay to the Government of Trinidad to give immediate effect to the recommendations made in regard to land settlement contained in the report of the Trinidad Inquiry Commission;
(2) what is the attitude of His Majesty's Government towards the suggestion made in the Trinidad inquiry report that the projected labour department should be empowered to withhold registration of trade unions in certain circumstances; and whether he is aware that this proposal is calculated to hamper the freedom of workers to combine for the protection of their labour?
§ The Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr. Ormsby-Gore)I shall await the views of the Government of Trinidad before coming to any final decision as to these recommendations. In this connection I would refer to my reply to the hon. Member for Shipley (Mr. Creech Jones) on 3rd February.
§ Mr. GallacherIn view of the serious character of the situation in Trinidad, cannot steps be taken immediately to give the minimum wage and to give land settlement, and at the same time to allow the same rights, limited as they are, that there are in this country to the people in Trinidad?
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreThe Commissioners, including Sir Arthur Pugh, give special reasons why it would take time for trade unions to develop in Trinidad and why the Secretary for Labour should have special control. As regards other matters like land settlement, there has just been a general election in Trinidad, and obviously the legislature must be consulted before other legislation is enacted.
§ Mr. GallacherIs it not the case that limitations are placed on trade unions because they want to develop along lines which are not suitable to the Government of Trinidad?
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreI would ask the hon. Gentleman to read paragraph 295 of the Commission's report.
§ Mr. BennWill the right hon. Gentleman give some weight to the other parts of the report which urge immediate action to redress the shameful labour conditions?
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreI have already said that I have accepted the recommendations of the report and have asked the Government of Trinidad to submit their views for a programme of legislation and action. I cannot do more.
§ 63. Mr. Gallacherasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the attitude of His Majesty's Government in regard to the immediate fixing of a minimum wage for labour in Trinidad?
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreThe present position in Trinidad in respect of wage fixing machinery is described in paragraph 165 of the Commission's report. As already explained in my reply to the hon. Member for Shipley (Mr. Creech Jones) on 3rd January, I have requested the views of the Government of Trinidad.
§ Mr. BennDoes not the right hon. Gentleman regard this as urgent in view of the large profits that are being made under Imperial Preference by the trading companies in Trinidad?
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreI do not know on what the right hon. Gentleman bases his information. The only Imperial Preference is on sugar, and I have yet to see large profits being made out of sugar in Trinidad.
§ Mr. BennIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the absolute inaction in the matter of the minimum wage was the main cause of the recent trouble, and will he, therefore, regard the matter as urgent?
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreThat is not what the Commission find. There is on the Statute Book in Trinidad provision for fixing the minimum wage, and the Commission suggests that the Government of Trinidad should put it into force.
§ Mr. GallacherIs the Minister aware—[HON. MEMBERS:" Order."] On a point of Order. I always understood that when a Member asked a question he was entitled to ask at least one supplementary question.
§ Mr. SpeakerThe hon. Member has already asked supplementary questions on No. 63.
69. Major Millsasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has received any information from the acting-Governor of Trinidad as to the reception of the commission's report in the Colony?
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreI am glad to be able to state that on 8th February I was informed by the Acting-Governor that the commission's report had been received very quietly in Trinidad, that its comments and proposals had had a generally favourable reception with the Press and public, and that the recommendations as to labour were welcomed. The fact that no definite increase in wages was proposed had caused some disappointment, but less than was expected, and there had been no adverse effects in any industry.
Mr. Creech JonesIn view of that reply, is it now proposed that the extra regiments stationed in Trinidad should continue there?
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreI should be obliged if that question were put down on Wednesday week.