HC Deb 11 December 1946 vol 431 cc1162-3
71. Mr. Driberg

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware of the address recently proposed in the Barbados House of Representatives urging that officials in the colonial service be forbidden to belong to clubs, or other associations which impose a colour bar; and if he will recommend to all colonial governments the introduction of regulations in this sense.

Mr. Creech Jones

I am informed that although notice was given in the Barbados House of Assembly of the intention to move an address asking the Governor to introduce legislation to prohibit Government officials from membership of, or participation in the activities of hotels, clubs, etc., which maintain racial discrimination of any sort, no address had been moved by the end of the recent Session. I have sympathy with the object which my hon. Friend has in mind, and have already taken steps with a view to having the question of racial and colour discrimination studied by Colonial Governments.

Colonel Gomme-Dunean

Will the Minister not agree that a club is a perfectly free association of people who wish to associate, and, therefore, it need not take anybody, whether of one colour or another? It applies both ways.

Mr. Creech Jones

That is not a question for me. The point raised was the practice of colour discrimination, and a motion which it was suggested should be moved in the Assembly.