asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether steps are being taken to encourage the development of trade unions in Northern Rhodesia.

There are two well developed European trade unions in Northern Rhodesia, but no African trade union as yet exists. My hon. friend will recollect that the Forster Commission expressed the opinion in 1940 that the African workers were not ready for trade unionism and that other methods were required to make their views known. Up to now this has been done through the Boss Boys' Associations and through the Elder System and elected bodies of tribal representatives with which the labour officers and district commissioners maintain close contact. The question of future policy regarding trade unions for African workers is clearly one to which the Northern Rhodesia Government will have to give serious attention.