§ 27. Mr. Bottomleyasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action has been taken in Northern Rhodesia, to implement the recommendations made by a commission of inquiry into the grievances 541W own countries. Prisoners of war here get working pay in addition to that. The rates of working pay are laid down by the Royal Warrant and are 6d. a day for ordinary labourer's work, and is. a day for other work. My hon. Friend has made great play with what he terms "slavery." I think he is exaggerating a little in that respect. After all, those who are prisoners of war in our hands— I can speak from my own experience, because I have seen conditions in Germany—are treated far better that their compatriots are in Germany. They are better fed, they are better clothed and they are better housed.
§ Mr. Stokes:That only means that we are better slavemasters.
§ Mr. Bellenger:My hon. Friend should not use those terms. As one who has considerable sympathy with his point of view, I can say that we are doing our duty to these prisoners of war and we are acting in a humane and tolerant manner. My hon. Friend might be surprised to know 542W that it was the German Government itself that insisted or tried to insist at the beginning of the war that German prisoners of war held by us should be put to work; but for reasons of security at that time it was not possible to do that. Idleness encourages the devil and the devil has plenty of work for idle hands. We are doing a good job by putting these prisoners of war to work. It is in their own interests, and they are contributing to this country s interest by helping to grow food, which not only our people, but they themselves require. My hon. Friend cannot allege in any way whatever that we are treating these individuals as slave labour. I look forward to the time when they can return to their own country, but I am afraid I cannot give the hon. Member any guarantee at the present moment when they will do so.
Question put, and agreed to.
Adjourned accordingly at Eighteen Minutes past Twelve o'Clock.
59Wwhich gave rise to the strike among African railway employees last November; and whether the basic wage for Africans has now been increased to 25s. per month with rations and housing as recommended.
§ Mr. georģe Hall:The Commission's recommendations have, I understand, been generally accepted by the Railway Company. The answer to the second part of the Question is "Yes, Sir." As stated in my reply to the hon. Member for Altrincham (Mr. Erroll) on 6th February, the recommendations for increases in wages have been implemented.