§ 83. Mr. Platts-Millsasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will make a statement on the strike of African workers in Bulawayo.
§ Mr. Gordon-WalkerThe Southern Rhodesia Government have informed me that on 14th April a strike of African workers for better wages, including commercial, industrial, municipal, Government and domestic employees, but not railway workers, commenced at Bulawayo against the advice of responsible African leaders. On 16th April the strike spread to Umtali, but by 19th April practically all workers at both towns were back at work. In Salisbury and Cwelo all municipal and many industrial, commercial, Government and domestic workers came out on 19th April, and there was a strike for a short time in Que Que, but by 22nd April work had been resumed at these places also, My latest information is that all African employees have returned to work except for one small mine and one farm. The Southern Rhodesia Government further informed me that African Labour Boards were being appointed forthwith for all interests affected except domestic servants and that sittings commenced in Bulawayo on 21st April.