§ 69. Mr. Stonehouseasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the position in Swaziland.
§ Mr. SandysOn 20th May. 1,400 workers at the Havelock Asbestos Mine, 39W the most important industry in the territory, went on strike for a minimum wage of £1 a day. The mine has just increased minimum wages from 3s. 9d. to 5s. 4d. a day in addition to rations. Under Swaziland law, once a labour dispute has been reported by either party to the dispute to the Labour Commissioner, strikes are illegal for a period of 21 days, during which conciliation and, if requested, arbitration can take place. On 24th May, the strike leaders were warned by the Government that they were in breach of the law. On 29th May, a board of inquiry was appointed to consider the cause and circumstances of the strike, the wage structure and the machinery for settlement which existed immediately before the strike. Despite this the strike continued and the Government, in face of a clear breach of the law, had no alternative but to arrest twelve of the strike leaders. This action was followed by attacks on the local police station and police property and a call by the Ngwane National Liberatory Congress for a general strike for a territory-wide minimum wage of £1 a day. The attacks were repulsed by means of tear smoke.
On 10th June, the leaders of this new political party led a procession of 1,500 Swazis armed with sticks towards the Secretariat at Mbabane. They were halted without much difficulty or the use of force, but a general strike developed in Mbabane and later the entire labour force (1,700 workers) at the Big Bend Sugar Mill and Plantation also came out on strike. In view of the uncertainties of the situation and the strain under which the small police force have been working, it was decided to fly in a small contingent of police from the Bechuanaland Protectorate to help stabilise the situation until a battalion of troops could arrive from Kenya. The announcement that troops were arrived had a steadying effect.
The situation is now calm. There has been no loss of life, or serious damage to property. Order has been restored throughout the Mbabane area and there has been some resumption of work there and at the Havelock Mine. At Ubombo the strike continues though half the workers have expressed the wish to return to work.