HC Deb 14 March 1957 vol 566 c1303
38. Mr. Brockway

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations under what conditions Mr. Abraham Moremoholo was appointed to a post in the Public Works Department in Maseru in Basutoland; and what are his pay and conditions.

Mr. Alport

Mr. Abraham Moremoholo is not, and never has been, an employee of the Public Works Department in Basutoland.

Mr. Brockway

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that I am not surprised by that Answer, because when Mr. Moremoholo applied—[Laughter.] The laughter will be on my side before I have finished. Is the hon. Gentleman aware that when Mr. Moremoholo applied for this post, although he is a skilled engineer and an instructor, he was offered it at £8 a month, whilst Europeans whom he had trained were being paid between £60 and £70 a month?

Mr. Alport

Mr. Moremoholo in fact applied with seven other Africans for an appointment with the P.W.D. Five of them were considered to be most suitable and were offered employment with the P.W.D. Those were the only circumstances in which Mr. Moremoholo was in contact with the P.W.D. in regard to employment.