§ 66. Mr. Sorensenasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the accounts of the Nigerian Colliery Workers' Union have been submitted annually to the Government Registrar; what was the last date on which these were passed as satisfactory; and what action can be and has been taken when accounts are not submitted or are unsatisfactory.
§ Mr. CookThe last accounts of the Union to be submitted to the Government Registrar were those for 1946, which were passed in September, 1947. A union failing to submit annual returns and its officers are liable to prosecution, and the certificate of registration of the union may be cancelled. The Nigerian Government refrained from taking this action in regard to the colliery union, but decided in July of last year to send a Government trade union officer to the colliery to give the union advice and help in its accounts. This was interrupted by the events of November, but has now been resumed, and an auditor was appointed in June of this year to audit the union accounts for 1949.
§ Mr. SorensenWould not the hon. Gentleman agree that, if these accounts had been audited in 1946, it would have been discovered at that time that something was wrong, and action might have been taken which, in turn, would have acquainted the workers in this industry with the true position? In view of that, has he made inquiries as to what can be done regarding the failure to carry out this order?
§ Mr. CookThe matter is still sub judice, and at the moment the secretary is under prosecution in respect of £10,000 which is unaccounted for.