Mr. Creech Jonesasked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies on what grounds of public policy the Government of Nigeria has enacted legislation prohibiting strikes; in what other Colonies has similar legislation been enacted; and whether it is intended, and for what purpose, to extend such a prohibition throughout the Colonial Empire?
§ Mr. George HallLegislation has been passed in Northern Rhodesia, Hong Kong, Nigeria and the Gold Coast, and will shortly be passed in Palestine prescribing that employers shall not declare or take part in lockouts and that workmen shall not take part in strikes in connection with any trade dispute, unless the dispute has been reported to the Governor or other competent Government authority and it has not been referred by him for settlement to the arbitration tribunal or board constituted for the purpose within 21 days of the date of the report. The object of this legislation is, as in the case of the United Kingdom Conditions of Employment and National Arbitration Order, 1940, to ensure that the war effort is not prejudiced by a stoppage of work in any industry essential to the prosecution of the war. With regard to the concluding part of the Question, my Noble Friend is prepared to concur in legislation of this kind being enacted by any Colonial Government where, for the above reason, the Governor advises that it would be desirable.