Labourers, Swaziland (Public Works Department)

Oral Answers to Questions — Commonwealth Relations – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 16 May 1957.

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Photo of Mr Fenner Brockway Mr Fenner Brockway , Eton and Slough 12:00, 16 May 1957

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what provision of food and housing accommodation is made to labourers employed by the Public Works Department in Swaziland.

Photo of Mr Cuthbert Alport Mr Cuthbert Alport , Colchester

Labourers employed by the Public Works Department in Swaziland receive the following scale of rations each week: 17½ lb. maize meal, and 3 lb. beans, as well as sunflower seed and salt. At headquarters labourers are housed in compounds, but on road work they are provided with transportable corrugated iron huts.

Photo of Mr Fenner Brockway Mr Fenner Brockway , Eton and Slough

While thanking the hon. Gentleman for that information, may I ask him whether when the High Commissioner shortly comes to this country he will seriously discuss with him the lifting of these standards where, according to his statement last week, wages vary from 1s. 6d. for youths to a maximum of 6s. a day for adults, and where, even though it is close to agriculture, bread is 5d. for a lb. loaf and milk 9d. a quart? I am giving the 1953 figures, which are the latest I have.

Photo of Mr Cuthbert Alport Mr Cuthbert Alport , Colchester

The High Commissioner is returning very shortly and, as I informed the hon. Gentleman on a previous occasion, this is a matter which naturally will be discussed with him; but I think I should point out that the figures which the hon. Gentleman gave on a previous occasion of wages ranging from 9d. to 1s. 5d. a day were corrected to 1s. 6d. to 6s. a day. Also—as will be seen from the additional information which I have given the House—there is approximately an extra 2s. a day in respect of food and housing in addition to the money wage which the labourers receive.

Photo of Mr Fenner Brockway Mr Fenner Brockway , Eton and Slough

On a point of order. As the hon. Gentleman said that he corrected me, may I state that the figures I gave were from the United Nations Report for 1953? They were the latest available.