§ Mr. Brockway(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations on what grounds public meetings have been banned for the first time in Basutoland, and 600 unemployed persons in Maseru have been arrested and detained.
§ The Joint Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations (Mr. Bernard Braine)According to the information so far received from the High Commissioner, the General Workers' Union in Maseru called a general strike on 14th March in sympathy with a club servant, who had been dismissed. Some intimidation was reported. A public meeting and a procession of 1,000 persons was later held.
The strike continued on 15th March. Since the situation showed signs of getting out of hand, the Resident Commissioner called on the Paramount Chief to provide men to supplement the police in preserving order. The Paramount Chief accordingly supplied about 600 men. The strike was called off on the night of 15th–16th March.
In the course of investigations on 18th March arising out of these events, the police in Maseru detained about 50 persons, against whom charges are now pending.
A temporary ban on public meetings of more than three persons was imposed in Maseru up to eight o'clock this morning.
§ Mr. BrockwayIs this not a most disappointing event after the withdrawal of South Africa from the Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference? Do we not all desire that these High Commission Territories should be models of racial equality and of African liberty? Is it not disastrous that, after this event, for the first time public meetings should be prohibited in this Territory, and unemployed persons rounded up in the way in which the hon. Gentleman has admitted?
§ Mr. BraineI see absolutely no connection between events relating to South 34 Africa and a dispute arising out of the dismissal of a club servant.
§ Mr. MarquandWhat was the cause of the discontent which led to the strike? Was the strike called off because it had gained its objectives? If not, what measures are being taken to conciliate the discontent which must have lain at the root of that strike?
§ Mr. BraineWe do not know at the moment what was the precise reason for the dispute and whether the club servant's grievance was justified, but I have called for a full report from the High Commissioner.
§ Mr. BrockwayCan the hon. Gentleman say when this report is likely to be in his hands, and can he say also whether the decision was taken by the Resident Commissioner without any endorsement from his superior officers?
§ Mr. BraineThe Resident Commissioner acted on the advice and with the agreement of the Executive Council, half of whom are Basutu.
We shall get the report as quickly as we can, and if the hon. Gentleman will put down an early Question I shall do my best to provide him with the information.
§ Mr. BrockwayI shall do so.
§ Mr. MarquandDoes not the hon. Gentleman agree that conciliation is the best way out of this situation, rather than repression? Will he report to the House, later, whether there is serious discontent which could be removed by the more rapid economic development of this Territory?
§ Mr. BraineI would agree that in any situation, this included, conciliation is better than repression, but I would not admit for a moment the use of the word "repression" in this instance.