HC Deb 24 June 1937 vol 325 cc1393-5W
Mr. Paling

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can make a statement on the grievances which have led the Indian community in Zanzibar to protest against the Clove Bill, now before the legislature, as involving their total elimination from the trade, to urge the Government of India to impose an embargo on cloves for Zanzibar, and to declare a hartal in support of their protest?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

The clove industry is the pre-eminent economic basis of Zanzibar and, in order to protect the interests of the native growers, the Government of Zanzibar has prepared legislation to control the trade through a body called the Clove Growers' Association. This body is Government controlled and the provisions of the Bill now under consideration will concentrate the purchase of all cloves in the hands of the Association. This measure has been taken after prolonged inquiry including the visit of a special Commissioner appointed in April, 1936, and I would emphasise the fact that no racial discrimination is involved. I am placing a copy of the Commissioner's report in the Library.

The Indian National Association in Zanzibar has made representations as the hon. Member states but its apprehensions are not well founded. The most explicit assurances have been given to the effect that in the administration of the Decree as little disturbance as possible will be caused and to this end an undertaking has been given that all traders who have previously been dealing in cloves will be allowed to continue as agents for the Association. As a result no person who has been dealing in cloves in the past will be eliminated from the trade against his wish, while the exporters will only be affected in that they will have to get their supplies from the Association.

The suggestion as to an embargo is not as the hon. Member thinks, but is a suggestion that the Government of India should prohibit the import into India of cloves from Zanzibar, and I fail to see how such a prohibition would benefit the Indian exporter of cloves from the Protectorate to India.

I have been in close touch with the Government of India, and I hope that responsible Indian opinion, both in India and Zanzibar, will accept the assurances which I have mentioned as adequately safeguarding the interests of the local Indians while it must be recognised that those of the native producers must come first.

Mr. Creech Jones

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has given further consideration to the representations by the Indian community in Zanzibar on the Clove (Purchase and Exportation) Decree, 1937; and whether, with a view to seeing whether the interests of all parties can be reconciled, the progress with this measure can be deferred pending the arrival in Zanzibar of the new British resident?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

I would refer my hon. Friend to the full answer which I have just made to the hon. Member for Wentworth (Mr. Paling). As regards the second part of the question, it is not practicable to delay the introduction of the Decree because the clove harvest begins in Zanzibar in the month of July. The Acting Resident has, however, agreed to defer taking the Bill through final legislative stages until the 15th of July in order to allow of further discussion.

Mr. Creech Jones

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any actual stocktaking has occurred in recent years of the stocks of cloves with the Clove Growers' Association in Zanzibar; whether, in view of the legislation affecting the activities of the association now pending, any independent check by weighing the stock of cloves can be taken for comparison with the stock now standing in the books of the association?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

So far as I am aware the first part of my hon. Friend's question is in the negative. The Clove Growers' Association is a non-profit-earning body closely controlled by the Zanzibar Government, and I have no reason to believe that Government is not entirely satisfied with the stock position. The legislation now pending would not appear to affect the matter.