30. Mr. David Adamsasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has any information as to the sit-down strike at Singapore on or about 24th June last, when 80 policemen 1289 ejected from the Firestone factory, 300 strikers, of whom 200 were women, and arrested 32 women and eight men; under what powers the police were acting in ejecting the strikers; and what are the explicit terms of such powers of ejection?
§ The Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr. George Hall)The stay-in strike in the Firestone Company's factory began on 4th May, and some 200 men and 100 women were involved. The strikers prevented the management from entering the premises to remove rubber. Seditious anti-British meetings were continuously held on the premises, and a fighting corps was formed to resist attempts to break the strike. On 22nd June warrants of arrest under the Banishment Ordinance were executed by the police for the deportation of 37 men and nine women on the premises who were known alien anti-British agitators. No other workers were interfered with, and no objections were made. Some of the workers left of their own accord as they did not desire to resume work. The remainder stayed on the premises and resumed employment when the factory reopened a few days later.
§ Mr. HallYes, Sir. The situation is clear, and from 1st July all rubber factories have been working with practically normal labour forces, and no further interference with employment has been reported.
§ Mr. BanfieldWill my hon. Friend, with his long experience of these matters, see that he sifts the wheat from the chaff in the statement he has made?
§ Mr. HallI have already done that, and I am satisfied that the Governor was quite justified in the action which he took.