§ 32. Mr. Palingasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has yet received the committee's report on the detention of Mr. Wallace Johnson under a Sierra Leone defence regulation?
§ The Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr. Malcolm MacDonald)I have now received the report of the committee appointed to consider objections to Mr. Wallace Johnson's detention. I see no ground for questioning the Governor's decision, taken in accordance with the committee's advice, that the Detention Order should remain in force.
§ Mr. PalingHas this man been guilty of any serious crime sufficient to keep him in detention in this way; and is not his crime that he has been agitating for better conditions among the people, miners in particular, who are working in the mines for as little as 6d. per day?
§ Mr. MacDonaldNo, Sir, that is not the reason why he has been detained. The reason is that the authorities have documents in their hands to show that he was intending action which would be prejudicial to the safety of the public.
§ Mr. PalingIs it not the fact that these documents show crimes of a very trivial character indeed, and do not warrant his detention?
§ Mr. MacDonaldI cannot accept that at all.