§ 19. Miss Herbisonasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the average monthly wage of workers in the Mlanje District of Nyasaland.
§ Mr. J. AmeryThe average basic earnings for a 26-day employment ticket amount to £2 14s. 2d.
§ Miss HerbisonIs the Minister aware that the individual share of the collective fine is almost a month's wages for these people? Is he aware that when the police burned down houses which it was suspected contained looted goods, they also burned down a house containing many bales of clothing which belonged to another Indian and which had nothing to do with this matter at all? Are the Africans of the Mlanje District being asked also to pay for that?
§ Mr. AmeryI will look into that incident. I emphasise that the Governor has in many cases reduced the fine imposed so that it does not even cover the cost of the damage done, because he has taken account of the conditions of the people in the area.