asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how long the strike of banana and coconut estate workers in the parish of St. Thomas, Jamaica, which began towards the end of January, continued; and whether the demands of the workers for an increase in wages, based on the cost of living index, have been granted?

The Governor has reported that the strike on banana and coconut plantations in St. Thomas was settled after a seven weeks' stoppage by a Government board of inquiry which succeeded in securing an agreement between the Farmers' Association and the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union resulting in most cases in wages increases.

In view of the fact that the sugar workers have received an advance, could not these people have had the same?

They have in most cases got increases.