§ 54. Mr. Rileyasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will take steps to ensure that in all Crown Colonies 1403 where productive or manufacturing industry received Colonial or Imperial assistance by way of tariffs, preferences or otherwise, effectual provision is made for reasonable standards of wages in such industry and reasonable prices paid to the growers and producers of raw materials?
Mr. M. MacDonaldAs regards the provision for reasonable standards of wages, minimum wage legislation is now in force in over 40 Colonial dependencies, and its enactment is being considered in the remainder. As regards the payment of reasonable prices to producers of raw materials, free competition between buyers normally ensures that the prices paid to primary producers bear a proper relation to the export prices of their products. Where for particular reasons quasi-monopolistic rights in respect of particular products are granted by Governments, the grant of such rights is invariably made dependent upon the payment of fair prices.