Mr. Creech Jonesasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the serious economic and social evils brought to light by the report of the inquiry into the disturbances in Barbados last year are being tackled by the local government; whether short-term and long-term policies have been evolved; and what progress has been made?
Mr. M. MacDonaldSince the reply which I gave on the 18th May, I have received a further report from the Acting Governor of Barbados which shows that further progress has been made.
The Minimum Wage-Fixing Machinery Act has been passed and, according to the most recent information in my possession, the Bill providing for the appointment of a labour officer has passed the House of Assembly and was recently laid before the Legislative Council. Legislation is also at various stages of consideration to amend the Bridgetown Housing Act; to protect the interests of peasants when their canes are being weighed; to provide for the appointment of a food watch committee; to require owners of plantations to plant annually 5 per cent. of their arable acreage in vegetables; and to increase the licence fees for the sale of spirits, malt, liquors, wines at hotels.
The Commission's recommendation for the provision of facilities for recreation and their proposal that the central Government should relieve landowners of the financial burden of expenditure on roads, sanitation and social services in their parishes are under consideration with the vestries of the various parishes.
The recommendation that wages of wharf labourers and porters should be paid direct has been adopted, but the similar recommendation in regard to longshoremen has been rejected by the firms concerned, who claim that it would involve the addition of another branch to their businesses. The lightermen and certain of the stevedores have stated that they do not wish any change made in the present system.
Wages for apprentices in the foundries have been revised, the revised wages up 3340W to the third year being now in accordance with the Commission's report, though for the fourth and fifth years they are fixed at 4 and 5 cents an hour respectively instead of 5 and 6, while the minimum wage for qualified artisans is 6 cents instead of 7 cents as recommended. The proposal that the workmen should be represented by one of their number in the management of the Workmen's Relief and Bonus Fund was rejected at a meeting of the workmen.
No further relief works are contemplated at present, but the position will be reviewed in a few months' time.
It will be clear from the above statement that the Colonial Government is proceeding with its short-term policy. As regards the long-term policy, the principal problem to which the Commission drew attention was that of over-population, which may have to be solved largely by emigration. The scheme of settlement for 475 Barbadian families in St. Lucia has started well, but no further schemes have been embarked upon yet. Any long-term policy involving emigration will require a study of conditions in the West Indian area generally, and this will no doubt be taken into account by the Royal Commission which has been appointed.