§ 65. Mr. Awberyasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many non-Europeans sat on the recent arbitration board dealing with the rubber workers in Malaya; what was the daily rate of the plantation labourers' wages before the award; what it is now; and what were the amounts paid at the peak periods.
§ Mr. LytteltonAs both employers and workers chose to nominate Europeans to the Board it did not include any non-European. The complicated wage structure of the industry makes it difficult to summarise the wage rates at various times, but I am placing in the Library of the House copies of the arbitration awards of May, 1951, and October, 1952, and a copy of the wages agreement reached by the two parties in July this year.
§ 66. Mr. Awberyasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that the recent arbitration award on rubber workers' wages in Malaya recommended that an inquiry should be held into the economics and present conditions of the rubber industry; and if he will implement this recommendation.
§ Mr. LytteltonThe Board of Arbitration felt unable, under its terms of reference, to study fully certain problems of the rubber industry raised during its proceedings and suggested that the Federa-166W tion Government should consider the advisability of calling a conference of experts in the rubber industry to study these problems. I have no doubt that the Federation Government will give the Board's suggestion due consideration.