Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at on 8 March 1939.
With regard to the recent strikes in Jamaica I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Consett (Mr. David Adams) and other hon. Members on 22nd February. In Trinidad 450 employés of the Trinidad Lake Asphalt Company stopped work on 22nd February demanding wage increases. The stoppage was not authorised by the two unions to which the workers belong, and they immediately urged the men to return to work. They had all returned to work by 27th February, pending negotiations. There was also a short strike of about 80 unorganised sugar workers on one of the estates of the Sainte Madeleine Sugar Company. There was some friction here between a few of the strikers and the management on 27th February, but prompt intervention by the police prevented the development of trouble. All the strikers resumed work on 2nd March in a peaceful atmosphere which still continues.
An intervention is when the MP making a speech is interrupted by another MP and asked to 'give way' to allow the other MP to intervene on the speech to ask a question or comment on what has just been said.