HC Deb 11 February 1953 vol 511 c35W
67. Mr. H. Hynd

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why members of the Labour Department in Kenya are being used for compulsory registration of Kikuyu working outside the tribal reserves, and, in view of the importance of Africans retaining confidence in the staff of the Labour Department, if he will consider using police for such duties.

Mr. Lyttelton

The registration of persons of all races under the Registration of Persons Ordinance has been carried out by the Labour Department since 1949 and it is administratively convenient for Kikuyu "History of Employment" cards to be issued at the Labour Department's labour exchanges or offices. It would be a misuse of available manpower to employ the police for this purpose, since they are needed for other urgent duties.

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