HC Deb 14 August 1940 vol 364 cc758-9
13. Mr. Creech Jones

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the drainage of native manhood from Nyasaland to other territories continues; has consideration been given to the social and economic results; what arrangement for recruitment exists with South Africa and also Southern Rhodesia; how many Africans were transferred each year; and whether statistics are available of the number who return to the Colony, and the average period of their absence in the past three years?

Mr. George Hall

As the reply is rather long, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is time reply:

The supply of labour in Nyasaland greatly exceeds the requirements of the Protectorate, and so far as I am aware, there has been no diminution in the numbers of natives who leave the Protectorate for employment in other Territories. The question of the migration of labour is kept under constant review, with particular regard to its effect on the social and economic welfare of the Protectorate. The aim of the Government is to secure that the native shall be free to work as he wishes either as an individual producer within the Protectorate or as a wage earner in Nyasaland or beyond its borders, subject to statutory safeguards of the conditions of employment.

As regards recruitment for South Africa, this is governed, so far as work on the Rand is concerned, by an arrangement with the Witwatersrand Native Labour Association, Limited, with which it has been agreed that up to 8,500 natives of Nyasaland may be allowed to work on the Rand at any one time. The natives are recruited in the Protectorate under proper safeguards. As regards Southern Rhodesia, my hon. Friend is no doubt aware that an agreement was signed in 1937 between the Governments of Northern Rhodesia, Southern Rhodesia and Nyasaland (known as the Salisbury Agreement) providing for the control of the flow of labour between these Territories, including medical examination of migrants, the issue of Identity Certificates, provision of rest camps, dispensaries, etc., Recruiting in Nyasaland is conducted in accordance with the recent International Labour Convention on the subject, which has been applied to the Protectorate. An Ordinance for this purpose was enacted in 1939.

Since November, 1937, an Administrative Officer has been stationed at Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia, to act as Nyasaland Labour Officer. An Officer has also been appointed to watch the interests of Nyasaland natives employed in the Rand Mines and to assist the Governments of the Union and of the Protectorate in regard to Nyasaland labour questions generally. His offices are in Johannesburg. These officers form part of the staff of the Nyasaland Labour Department. The number of Nyasaland natives who emigrated to South Africa in 1939 was 9,061; and 11,847 returned during that year. The number of Nyasaland natives who emigrated to Southern Rhodesia was 28,496; and 26,379 returned from that Territory.

No statistics regarding the average periods of absence are available, but in the case of the Rand mines the worker normally remains at work for about 12 months and then returns home to rest. As regards the Rhodesias, one of the provisions of the Salisbury Agreement is that emigrant natives in general should return to their homes after working for an economic period not exceeding two years. I am sending my hon. Friend copies of the Annual Reports of the Nyasaland Labour Department for the years 1938 and 1939, which contain detailed information on the labour position generally.