HC Deb 29 January 1947 vol 432 cc219-20W
120. Mr. H. Hynd

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what occupations were affected by the recent strike in Mombasa; what were the demands of the strikers; and what action was taken during the strike by the Labour Department of the Government of Kenya.

Mr. Creech Jones

Nearly all African labour in Mombasa was affected by the strike which has now ended, including port and railway workers, hotel, bank and office employees and domestic servants. I understand that while no precise demands were formulated on behalf of the strikers as a whole, their demands were primarily for higher wages and lower rents. The Labour Department, under the personal direction of the Labour Commissioner, was actively engaged throughout the strike in taking all possible steps to persuade the strikers to return to work so that their grievances might be investigated and where necessary remedied.