§ Mr. Fenner Brockwayasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what wages are paid to labourers employed on the sugar estates in Mauritius ; what facilities are provided for them to gather fodder from the estates for their cattle ; and what access trade union officials are allowed to the estates.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe wages of daily rated field labourers—including a cost of living allowance of 46 per cent.—range from 2s. 10d. to 5s. 5d. for men and from 2s. 2d. to 2s. 9d. for women.
When fodder is available regular employees may collect it on most estates without payment : only rarely is a nominal charge made.
Under the terms of an agreement between the Amalgamated Labourers Association and the Sugar Producers Association, accredited officials of the Association have free access to the estates to collect subscriptions provided notice of the visit is given. Such officials may also meet and address their members on estate premises—excluding factory and fields—provided that permission has first been given by the estate manager.