42. Mr. Dugdaleasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he was consulted before the amendment to the Northern Rhodesian Penal Code, Section 151A, designed to prevent peaceful picketing was made; and whether he gave his consent thereto.
§ Mr. LytteltonI was consulted and, in view of the abuse and intimidation which were being carried on under the guise of "peaceful picketing," I authorised the introduction of the amendment which, as the right hon. Gentleman will have noticed, is careful not to prohibit watching and besetting in furtherance of a trade dispute, and which enjoins that no prosecution shall be instituted without the written consent of the Attorney-General.
Mr. DugdaleIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that such regulations are open to grave abuse? In the past employers in this country have frequently used the excuse that peaceful picketing was not as peaceful as they would like in order to prevent peaceful picketing altogether? Will the right hon. Gentle- man see that the same thing does not happen in Northern Rhodesia?
§ Mr. LytteltonI am not competent to answer questions about what happens in this country—[HON. MEMBERS: "Why not?"] The right hon. Gentleman asked me about matters connected with peaceful picketing in this country. That does not seem to have anything to do with the Question on the Order Paper, and all I am saying, is that it is not my business to answer such questions. The fact is that peaceful picketing was abused and these regulations are necessary to prevent that. They are not designed to prevent peaceful picketing in trade disputes.