§ 13. Mr. Dempseyasked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations if he is aware that 13-year-old children are being employed in Basutoland as underground miners; and if he will take steps to prevent this illegal practice.
§ Mr. AlportThere are no underground mines in Basutoland.
The hon. Member is perhaps misled by a feature appearing in the Daily Herald of 7th March last of an alleged Basuto boy miner of 13. The Rand agent for the High Commission Territories and members of his staff interviewed the youth and examined his records. They satisfied themselves that he was 18 years of age; had never been underground and had been employed on planting tree seedlings in one of the parks and washing dishes. He accounted for the fact that he was wearing a miner's hat at the time the photograph was taken by saying "I borrowed the hat from a friend of mine because it was raining and I did not want to get my head wet".
§ Mr. DempseyIs the Minister aware that further extensive inquiries were made into this and other incidents, and that considerable breaches in the law concerning the employment of young people were actually reported? Will he give an assurance that the law enforcement officers will take every step to prevent the employment of child labour in this Territory?
§ Mr. AlportThere is no question of child labour, so far as I am aware, but if the hon. Gentleman has any information which he would like to send to me, I should be glad to consider it. I hope at the same time that the paper concerned will publish the answer I have given.