HC Deb 31 October 1956 vol 558 cc1427-30
10. Mr. J. Johnson

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many members of the Northern Rhodesia Mine-workers' Union were imprisoned when the recent state of emergency was declared in that Protectorate ; what were the charges preferred against them ; and what further action he proposes taking in this matter.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

Forty-five members of the African Mineworkers' Trade Union have been detained under Regulation 16 (1) of the Emergency Powers Regulations. All 45 are being served with notices stating the general grounds on which detention was ordered, and drawing attention to their right to object before an advisory committee. No member of the union has been charged with an offence. On the last part of the Question, the Acting Governor is still considering how best to bring the emergency to an end without risk of further unrest.

Mr. Johnson

Why cannot the Minister end this state of emergency in Northern Rhodesia? Is he not aware that there was a similar state of affairs in Southern Rhodesia, but that there it was ended on 27th September, and that Mr. Garfield Todd debated the emergency in the Assembly at Salisbury on 2nd October? Why cannot we in the Colony, and Her Majesty's Government, be at least as liberal as the people south of the Zambesi, whom many people attack as being most illiberal—yet they are showing us what to do?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

I am glad to hear the hon. Member pay that well-deserved tribute to the Government of Southern Rhodesia, and I hope he will repeat it on every other occasion. In Northern Rhodesia, the state of emergency cannot be lifted until the danger of renewed threats in the Copper Belt is removed. In Southern Rhodesia, the state of emergency was to deal with the strike on the railway, and when that strike ended that particular danger came to an end.

12. Mr. Swingler

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many officials of the African Mineworkers' Union arrested during the emergency in Northern Rhodesia are still in custody ; with what offences they have been charged ; in how many cases they have been deported from the Copper Belt or rusticated to their tribal areas ; and in how many cases their families have been evicted from the tied houses which they occupied.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

Forty-four officials of the African Mineworkers' Trade Union arrested during the emergency are still detained under the Emergency Powers Regulations. No charges have been preferred against them. All are detained outside the Copper Belt. In addition, six officials have been removed in custody to their tribal areas and are restricted to those areas. There have been no evictions, but the families of 18 officials vacated their tied houses on request and were either taken to their homes in the tribal area at Government expense, or found other accommodation outside the mining companies' locations.

Mr. Swingler

Has the Secretary of State examined the facts in this case and, in particular, the statement of the President of the Trade Unions of Northern Rhodesia about it? Is it not a fact that the only crime of these men was to stand up for independent trade unionism and against company unionism. Why have the Government intervened in what was a proper industrial dispute? Why have emergency powers been used to detain officials of a union who are legitimately leading an industrial dispute?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

Troubles arose from inter-union rivalry. May I say that one of the alleged causes of this is the opportunities for promotion given to Africans on the Copper Belt, which were unanimously welcomed recently in the House. Dealing with the assumption behind the hon. Member's question, it was the threat to law and order on the Copper Belt which made this action essential.

35. Mr. Bowles

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the officials of the African Mineworkers' Union in Northern Rhodesia who were recently arrested under emergency laws will be released now that the strike is over.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

They cannot be released until the Acting Governor is satisfied that their release will not lead to renewed unrest.

36. Mr. Bowles

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what assistance is being and has been given to the families of the imprisoned officials of the African Mineworkers' Union in Northern Rhodesia ; and whether the latter will be reinstated in their old homes when they are released.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

Arrangements for the families of officials and others detained under the Emergency Powers Regulations have included help in finding alternative accommodation in the Copper Belt ; free transport back to the tribal area ; and financial assistance where necessary.

I cannot say whether any detainee will return to the house he occupied before, but any union official who is also a mine employee and returns to that employment will be entitled to be housed by the company. However, there is no such obligation on the company to house any union official who is not also a mine employee.

Mr. J. Johnson

Is it not a fact that these officials were put in gaol without any specific charge being levelled against them? Why cannot the Minister at least be magnanimous, if not statesmanlike, and let them go back to their own families now that the worst stage of the emergency is over?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

I also hope that the emergency can be brought to an end. But trade union officials have no rights outside the law which are not open to other people ; nor can I hold out any hope that the emergency can be declared to be at an end until it has been found possible to evolve other methods of trying to prevent its recurrence.