Mr. Creech Jonesasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the imprisonment of labourers and imposition of heavy fines in Mauritius for withholding labour in a trade dispute, steps are being taken to bring trade union law and industrial relations practice and enactment into line with observances in other parts of the Colonial Empire.
§ Colonel StanleyI understand that certain persons have been imprisoned, in default of fine, for breaches of Section 22 of the Industrial Association Ordinance, 1938, which, as amended, provides that a strike is illegal if it takes place before the expiration of the period of ten days from the date on which the industrial dispute, to which the strike relates, was referred to the Conciliation Board. I am satisfied that under existing circumstances this provision is justified. The Government of Mauritius, however, is fully conscious of the need for the improvement of industrial relations in the Colony and the development of trade unionism on proper lines. This process has been started by the Department of Labour and will be assisted by the proposed establishment of a system of Industrial Courts which is intended to provide machinery for the prompt hearing of complaints and as far as possible to dispose of disputes without actual litigation. The process will, I hope, be further accelerated when I succeed in my present efforts to secure the services of a suitable person to visit Mauritius to advise on trade union methods and procedure.