HC Deb 20 December 1944 vol 406 cc1782-4
68. Mr. Creech Jones

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the unsatisfactory revelations in the recent Report of the Commission on the 1943 Mauritius disturbances, he will insist on a drastic overhaul of the Labour Department in that Colony; whether trade union law will be amended so as to permit of industrial and island-wide organisation with officers not statutorily required to be in the employment of the trade or service organised; and whether he will push on with constitutional change.

Colonel Stanley

With regard to the first part of the Question, as the reply is rather long, I am circulating a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT. With regard to the second part of the Question, the law has now been amended to provide for the employment as officials of an association of persons who at any time have been employed in the industry which the asso- ciation represents. As regards the last part of the Question, I have received from the Governor his comprehensive proposals for constitutional reform, and there will be no unnecessary delay in the process of discussions here and in Mauritius.

Wing-Commander Grant-Ferris

Would not my right hon. and gallant Friend agree that the fault lies not with the new legislation that is required, but in the administration, which has failed to carry out the existing legislation? Will he do something to improve the present administration?

Colonel Stanley

I cannot entirely accept that. If my hon. and gallant Friend will look at the statement which I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT he will see the many steps which have been taken to improve that organisation.

Following is the statement:

Measures for increasing the efficiency of the Labour Department in Mauritius have already been taken. These include the following:

  1. (a) The new Director of Labour is not now employed on other duties unconnected with his own Department, and is able to devote his whole time to the work of the Labour Department.
  2. (b) The senior staff of the Labour Department have been increased to three effective officers instead of one, in addition to six labour inspectors instead of five.
  3. (c) The staff of the Labour Department are now decentralised, each senior officer being allotted a group district.
  4. (d) Poor Law Administration has been handed over to a supervisor under the general supervision of the Director of Labour.
  5. (e) A special officer has been appointed to assist in the establishment of trade unions and in the re-establishment of industrial courts.
  6. (f) Progress is being made in setting up a works council in each undertaking.
  7. (g) The peripatetic Industrial Court is now fully in operation.
  8. (h) The Labour Advisory Board has been constituted a Wages Board to advise on minimum wage rates and hours of work.

In addition to these measures, the Governor proposes to appoint an Indian Magistrate as an extra Assistant Director of Labour, and to improve the status of inspectors who will reside in their districts when accommodation is available. Further reorganisation proposals are under close examination in the Colony, and arrangements have been made for the early visit of an experienced Trade Union official to Mauritius. Labour issues cannot wholly be isolated from the general plan of administrative reform which is taking shape but which is dependent for its success upon finance and personnel which are not yet available.