§ Mr. Charles Smithasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps he proposes to take to promote the further development of trades unionism in Malaya.
Mr. Creech JonesWhile the efforts to establish a sound trade union movement both in the Federation of Malaya and Singapore have been attended with a reasonable amount of success, neither the272W High Commissioner for the Federation of Malaya, the Governor of Singapore nor I can regard the position as entirely satisfactory, and, at the suggestion of the High Commissioner and the Governor, I have invited a small trade union mission from the United Kingdom to visit Malaya. The task of the mission will be to look thoroughly into the situation of labour and the trade unions, giving such helpful guidance as they can to the Colonial Governments and the trade unions, and to make a report. I am glad to say that my hon. Friend the Member for Bristol, Central (Mr. Awbery), who has a wide knowledge and experience of United Kingdom trade union practice and procedure, and Mr. F. W. Dalley, lately Assistant General Secretary of the Railway Clerks' Association, whose excellent report on a somewhat similar mission to Trinidad was published recently, have accepted my invitation to undertake this visit to Malaya. Arrangements are being made for their departure at an early date.