§ 140. Sir R. Glynasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is in a position to make a statement regarding the demobilisation and resettlement of those Colonial Forces recruited from West Indian and African Colonies between 1939 and 1946; how many of these men became casualties and what aid is being offered to train them for civil occupations.
218W
Mr. Creech JonesYes, Sir. The figures are as follow:
DEMOBILISATION. West Africa: Demobilised up to 31st May,1946 67,021 East and Central Africa: Demobilised up to 31st May,1946 163,150 West Indies: North Caribbean: Demobilised up to 31st May, 1946 2,369 South Caribbean: Demobilised up to 30th June, 1946 2,472 Bermuda: Demobilisation complete—Number released 373 West Indians specially enlisted in R.A.F. for duty in the United Kingdom. Demobilised 1,800 Demobilisation is proceeding smoothly and the local forces are expected to be reduced by the end of the year, or earlier, to a figure approximating to the interim strength approved pending a final decision regarding peacetime establishments. The above figures refer, except in the case of the West Indians specially enlisted in the R.A.F. for duty in the United Kingdom, to locally enlisted military forces only. The position in regard to the small local Naval and Air Forces raised in these areas is similar.
RESETTLEMENT.
(1) Africa generally:
The African Territories are predominantly agricultural areas and it is both natural and desirable that the majority of African ex-Service men should prefer, on demobilisation, to return to their own homes, where they can be reabsorbed in, and contribute much to, the communities in which they live. They have an important role to play in economic development in social welfare, in general education and in the many facets of African rural life. To this end technical and vocational training establishments have been, or are being, set up throughout the African territories. There is great scope for village craftsmen, agriculturists. teachers, welfare and health workers, and in the East and Central African territories training centres in operation, or about to be opened, cater for as many as 15 different trades.
For those who have pursued trades while in the Army and wish to carry them on in civil life, more advanced courses are provided. It is necessary here to accommodate the courses to the educational background of the men, since many have insufficient grounding to enable them to absorb intensive instruction. It is also necessary, so far as possible, to relate the output to the absorptive capacity of the Territories. As this increases with development it is expected that further facilities will be made available to meet the need for training. Special provision for European ex-Servicemen is also made in certain East and Central African Territories to enable ex-Servicemen to take up careers in agriculture and to equip them for professional and other careers.
219WThe following are details of the position in individual territories:
West Africa:
In Nigeria half of the 60,000 men demobilised have been absorbed into agriculture and industry, and a further 10,000 placed in paid employment which absorbs about 1,000 men per month. Legislation has been enacted to provide for the reinstatement of ex-Servicemen in employment and for the filling of vacancies by a quota of ex-Servicemen. Government establishments are available for training and a Government Trade Training school is to be opened. Ex-Servicemen are to be assisted to obtain tools to set up as craftsmen, artisans and farmers and will be given an opportunity of participating in land settlement schemes which are proposed.
In the Gold Coast technical, advanced clerical, agricultural and teacher training courses have already absorbed 172 men and Advice Services have been established to assist ex-Servicemen to obtain employment and to advise them in such matters as pension rights, etc.
In Sierra Leone the main problem is the settlement of some 4,000 men who have been trained in trades in the Army. Further training will be provided for those able, to benefit, and it is expected that the remainder will be absorbed in development projects in the Protectorate.
In the Gambia technical training facilities are also available and men who wish to establish improved farms will be assisted to do so. Sixty-five such applications have already been approved.
East and Central Africa:
The main technical and vocational training centre for Africans is the Native Industrial Training Depot in Kenya which is under the control of the Directorate of Training. Courses are provided for the training of artisans, clerks, teachers, welfare assistants, etc., and further sub-centres will be opened if more elementary training is required. In addition, African clerks, teachers, welfare workers and health and hygiene workers are being trained at the Jeanes School at Kabete, which is being operated for ex-Servicemen in cooperation with the military authorities.
In Uganda there are already five technical schools and provision has been made for a sixth. Facilities are also available for training African engineering and survey assistants and there are courses in village handicrafts. Training institutes are maintained by the Medical and Agricultural Departments and commercial training by the Education Department.
In Tanganyika two main centres have been established and four subsidiary centres are being set up for the training of ex-Servicemen in skilled trades. It is intended that they should be retained as a permanent feature of the Territory's educational system. Teacher training centres and centres for the training of hospital and dental assistants already exist.
In Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland there are already technical schools and the Government of Nyasaland is considering setting up an Industrial Training Centre or Polytechnic, to provide for both elementary and specialised technical and vocational training. Govern- 220W ment Employment Bureaux and a variety of other agencies assist the ex-Servicemen to obtain employment.
All the territories provide Bursaries to overseas Universities for suitably qualified ex-Servicemen of whatever race, who were unable to begin or complete their training owing to the war. Thirty-eight such awards have already been made. The arrangements in Kenya for land settlement and training, including those specially designed for European ex-Servicemen, have been described fully in Kenya Sessional Paper No. 8 of 1945.
(ii) West Indies:
In Jamaica a Reabsorption Department has been set up to administer the Government Resettlement schemes. The main problem is to find employment for those who do not qualify or do not wish to apply for assistance. Preference for ex-Servicemen is given in Government employment and private employers have been urged to do the same. Some 560 men have been placed in employment and 327 more have been accepted for agricultural work in the United States. Educational grants are made to enable men to attend courses at Teacher Training Colleges, and Government Technical Schools Correspondence courses are also arranged free of charge; up to date 345 men have made use of these facilities.
Land up to£150 in value (of which 75 per cent. is repayable in 25 years) and grants for tools and stock are provided to settlers on Government land settlements, and similar assistance is given for the purchase of suitable land elsewhere. So far 278 applications have been accepted. A scheme for a six months' training course in agriculture is projected.
Assistance up to a maximum of£200 is also available for the building of new houses and for the repair of existing houses, and loans up to a maximum of£50 free of interest are available to men who wish to establish themselves in trade or small businesses. One hundred and eighty-three applications for loans have been granted.
In Trinidad the arrangements include educational grants, grants for the purchase of tools, text books, or to start or resume businesses. Vocational courses are provided and a scheme to assist settlement on government land is also available, advances being given for the clearance of land and for building.
In the other West Indian Colonies schemes of a similar nature to the above have been arranged and are available for men who wish to take advantage of them. But the numbers involved are comparatively small and, in general, serious difficulties in placing ex-Servicemen in employment are not expected.
CASUALTIES. West Africa. East and Central Africa. Killed or died of wounds. 1,164 1,967 Wounded 3,331 2,218 Missing 245 11 No West Indian Forces were engaged in active operations against the enemy during the war.
221WTRAINING OF DISABLED MEN
In Nigeria the permanently disabled numbered 385 on 30th Jane, 1946. Of them 68 are lepers, and 36 amputation cases, Most of the disabled prefer to obtain paid employment at once or to return to their homes where they can augment then pensions by trading or light local industries. Those who desire special training will be given preference in the Trade Training School. Lepers are given the opportunity to enter settlements where they receive maximum disability pensions, free treatment and maintenance and in suitable cases vocational training
An artificial limb centre for the disabled has been establish. I in the Gold Coast and occupational therapy is provided. Forty men have passed through the centre to date.
In Sierra Leone occupational therapy and training is provided in a rehabilitation centre, The number of disabled is, however, small, and only so men have so far passed through the centre. Disabled men from the Gambia may he sent to the rehabilitation centre in Sierra Leone.
East Africa:
The disabled number approximately 108, All have passed through the Army rehabilitation centre and those under training are at the ordinary territorial ex-Servicemen's training centres. No applications from blinded or disabled ex-Servicemen have been or will be refused unless the applicant asks for a completely unsuitable type of training and declines an alternative. Contact with disabled men is maintained with a view to encouraging them to undergo training but the response is not great as the majority prefer to return to agricultural pursuits in their homes.