§ 6. Mr. R. Edwardsasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent a system of grants-in-aid to native administrators in Sierra Leone has been introduced by the Government; how far these have enabled them to employ more competent staff; what rates of pay they receive; if the proposals to introduce a system of annual conferences at which representatives of the chiefs and the people can discuss common problems with representatives of the Government have now been accepted; and when the first conferences will take place.
§ Mr. ProfumoAs the answer is rather long, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. SwinglerI am much obliged for that information. Cannot the hon. Member give any figures of the number of representatives of organised African workers? Is it not very important that there should be representatives of the organised African workers who have 556 first-hand knowledge of their living conditions? Could we not therefore have a set of figures of those who actually represent the trade unions of the Africans?
§ Mr. ProfumoWhen I have full information I will write to the hon. Member—and I will get the information as soon as I can.
Following is the information:Since 1st July, 1957, the Government have been making a grant-in-aid to native administrations to meet half the salaries of clerks and chiefdom messengers, and in the case of paramount chiefs 60 per cent. on the first £500 of their salaries, 40 per cent. on the next £250 and 25 per cent. on the next £200. As a result of higher salaries introduced for clerks and messengers and the training courses now in operation, it is hoped to attract a better type of candidate. The rates of pay for chiefdom clerks now vary from £118 to £374 for clerks and from £87 to £136 for messengers. The salaries of chiefs vary considerably according to the size and wealth of their chiefdoms, and are not determined by the central Government. The proposal to introduce provincial conferences is under active consideration.