§ Mr. Mathersasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will state in which Colonies labour advisory boards have been established; whether native workers are represented on the boards; and, if so, to what extent; what are the powers of the boards; whether their decisions are mandatory; and what improvements have been given effect to as a result of their activities.
§ Colonel StanleyAt the present time Labour Advisory Boards, or Committees of that nature, are functioning in Antigua, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Ceylon, Falkland Islands, Fiji, the Gambia, Grenada, Jamaica, Kenya, Mauritius, Nigeria, Northern Rhodesia, Nyasaland, St. Christopher and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Sierra Leone, Tanganyika Territory, Uganda and Zanzibar. Native workers are directly represented on a number of these Boards, but in territories where it is impossible to find qualified workers' representatives, the interests of such are entrusted to officials and others nominated by the Governor to represent 1151W them. The Boards are set up to advise Governors on labour questions generally, and their decisions are not mandatory. The matters so far reviewed by them have covered a wide field, including fundamental labour legislation, wage rates, cost of living, unemployment, relief to workers, recruitment, employment of women and children and the abolition of penal sanctions for breaches of contract of employment. In many instances legislation has been passed on the lines advised by these Boards and I am satisfied that their activities have been and will prove to be useful in advising the Governors on these important matters.