§ 56. Mr. Palingasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the reasons for the strike of 3,000 labourers at the Marampa mine, Sierra Leone, from 2nd May to 22nd May; and the wages paid to the labourers?
Mr. M. MacDonaldI understand that the requests put forward by the strikers 410 were, first, for an increase in wages because of an increase which had recently been granted by the company to the grade of chief headmen; and, secondly, for payments during absences from work owing to injury. At the time of the strike, the labourers were being paid at the rate of 9.d. a day, together with an issue of rice. The strikers returned to work on 22nd May, and I am informed that an increase in pay, to 10d. a day with the ration of rice, was granted with effect from 1st June. With regard to the other request, the men's representatives were informed that compensation on the basis of the provisions of the draft Workmen's Compensation Bill would be granted in all cases of accident occurring on or after 1st June, 1939.
§ Mr. PalingIs it any wonder that men working at mining and paid 9d. and 10d. a day should revolt; and will the Colonial Secretary give his attention to these scandalously low wages and conditions?
Mr. MacDonaldThat raises a very large subject, with which I could not deal in answer to a question, but I did, in the course of the Debate on the Colonial Office Estimates, indicate that it was a great mistake to compare rates of wages in the Colonies with rates of wages here, because the conditions are totally different.