HC Deb 15 November 1950 vol 480 cc166-7W
101. Mr. J. B. Hynd

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how far any colour bar operates on the Northern Rhodesian Railways, either in respect of appointment to particular grades in the service or of eligibility of Africans for membership of trade unions.

Mr. J. Dugdale

Rhodesia Railways are owned jointly by Northern and Southern Rhodesia and Bechuanaland Protectorate. Africans are employed on them in unskilled and semi-skilled posts but, so far, no African railway worker has been employed in a skilled post. There is no clause in the constitution of the Rhodesia Railways Workers' Union debarring an African from becoming a member of that Union. An African Railway Workers' Union has recently been formed in Northern Rhodesia and has applied for registration under the Trade Unions and Trade Disputes Ordinance. Its constitution, however, does not comply in all respects with the provisions of the ordinance and the Union has been advised of the amendments necessary to make it eligible for registration.