HC Deb 16 December 1942 vol 385 cc1962-3W
Mr. Gallacher

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether Mr. C. S. W. Maeyer, vice-chairman of the Mufulira Branch of the Northern Rhodesia Mineworkers' Union, and Mr. F. S. Maybanks, general secretary of the same union, who were detained by the governor of Northern Rhodesia in October, have been brought to trial; and what is the charge on which their detention was ordered?

Colonel Stanley

Neither of these persons has been brought to trial. In accordance with the Northern Rhodesia Emergency Powers Regulations, under which they were detained, objections which they made to the order for detention were considered by an Advisory Committee. In the case of Mr. Maeyer, the Advisory Committee felt that there were not sufficient grounds for his detention but that his presence on the Copperbelt was undesirable. He was informed of the Committee's recommendations, and that it was proposed to deport him to South Africa, where he was born, but that he would be allowed to leave of his own accord if he so wished. He stated that he was willing to leave, and he left for South Africa some weeks ago. The Advisory Committee recommended that Mr. Maybank should continue to be detained. The Governor of Northern Rhodesia decided that it was inadvisable that he should be kept indefinitely in custody in the territory, and was accordingly authorised to take steps under the Emergency Powers Regulations for Mr. Maybank to be removed to this country where he was born. On arrival here, Mr. Maybank will no longer be subject to detention. The grounds on which the detention of these persons was ordered were given by my right hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in reply to a Question on 2rst October.

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