HC Deb 10 April 1941 vol 370 c1732

Motion made, and Question proposed,"That this House do now adjourn."— (Mr. James Stuart.)

Mr. Creech Jones (Shipley)

Although the situation in Europe and Africa is grim and we seek to vindicate certain great principles—principles of importance to the future of Africans—I am sure the House will not begrudge spending an hour of its time in discussing the well-being of Africans for whom this House has a special responsibility. The Copperbelt Report has occasioned considerable interest because the repercussions of the questions in dispute have been felt in all parts of Africa, and how the problems raised are handled will have a great importance in our future relations in that great Continent. I regret that the Commission appointed to investigate this dispute was a Commission of the Northern Rhodesian Government. This was not the responsibility of Lord Moyne or of my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary for the Colonies, but the fact remains that, as it was a Commission of the Northern Rhodesian Government, there has been considerable delay and very great difficulty has been experienced by many bodies interested in the problems of the Copperbelt, in obtaining copies of the report itself. I hope that this method of investigating such special grievances in the Colonies will not be adopted again. I would like to say, in this connection, that I am a little puzzled that the draft report should have been submitted to certain interests whose activities were in review before the Report was officially published.

I think, as a House, we should congratulate the Commission—

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