Written Answers
Gambia
Yellow Fever
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, whether, in view of the restrictions on account of yellow fever in Gambia Colony, any explanation was given to the local population of the curfew and quarantine regulations, the closing of schools, and prohibition of public worship; and whether the orders to this effect were issued in the customary manner?
Statements were issued by the senior medical officer explaining the quarantine and other measures which the Government of the Gambia decided to enforce at Bathhurst on account of the recent outbreak of yellow fever. I have not received from the Governor copies of the actual orders issued, but he has my fullest support in taking prompt and drastic action to deal with the emergency.
Criminal Code And Procedure Ordinances
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, whether he is aware that for the past 50 years English common law has been in use in the Gambia Colony, and that it has now been superseded by the introduction of a criminal code and a criminal procedure code, and the people of the Gambia have petitioned against these codes expressing the desire to retain the English common law; what was the reason for this change of legal system; whether the views of the people of the Gambia were ascertained before the change was made; and whether he is aware that the enforcement of the code laws by the military police force gives the appearance that the Colony is under martial law?
Previous to the recent enactment of the Criminal Code and the Criminal Procedure Ordinances, the Criminal Law in force in the Gambia Colony was a mixture of the common law, local Ordinances, and certain Imperial Acts of general application. It was in order to codify the principles embodied in all these and to clarify the position generally that these Ordinances were enacted. Ample opportunity was given for discussion of the measures, and a number of amendments were accepted when the Bills were before the Legislative Council. Protests have been received from the Gambia against the enactment of the codes in question, but I am satisfied that they proceed from a very small minority of the inhabitants of the Colony, and that the Codes are well suited to the requirements of, and will be of considerable value to, the Gambia. The ordinary police force of the Colony is employed in the enforcement of these, as of any other, Ordinances, and I aware of no ground for the suggestion that an appearance of martial law has been created.
India (Cinematograph Films)
asked the Secretary of State for India, whether he has any information with regard to current proposals of American film interests to produce a film or films in India; and whether any steps will be taken to control and censor the script of any such films by the Government of India?
I have no information as to the first part. No film can be exhibited in India unless it is certified by one of the five Indian Boards of Film Censors.
Cotton Exports
asked the President of the Board of Trade the quantity and value of cotton goods exported from this country in each of the last five complete years, and up to the latest date in 1934 on which figures are available?
The desired information is shown, for the years 1929 to 1933, in volume III of the "Annual Statement of Trade" and for the first eleven months of 1934 in the November issue of the "Accounts relating to Trade and Navigation."
Steamship "Usworth" (Loss)
asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the loss of 17 lives in the sinking of the Newcastle steamer "Usworth" in mid-Atlantic, due entirely to the fact that boats had to be launched and that rescue lines could not be used; and whether he is satisfied that all ships are provided with all possible rescue appliances and the means of using them so as to obviate the necessity of launching boats in heavy seas?
I have seen reports of the loss of the "Usworth", and inquiries are being made into the casualty. I should like to take this opportunity of expressing the sympathy of His Majesty's Government with the relatives of those who lost their lives in this disaster, both those belonging to the "Usworth" and those who gave their lives in a gallant attempt to effect a rescue. I have no reason to suppose that efficient line throwing apparatus was not available both on the "Usworth" and the "Ascania". Indeed, according to the reports available, many attempts were made to establish communication between the "Usworth" and other ships by lines, and for some time the vessel was actually taken in tow. It seems that after the tow line had parted it was not possible to get another line on board owing to the exceptional weather conditions and to the exhausted state of the crew of the "Usworth". Lifeboats were only launched as a last resource in response to urgent requests from the master of the "Usworth" when the position had become precarious and no other method of saving the crew was practicable.There is nothing in the reports so far received with regard to this casualty to lead me to think that the life saving appliances provided on British ships are inadequate. In the case of all seagoing vessels of over five hundred tons gross these appliances include an approved line throwing apparatus.
Transport
New Roads (Level Crossings)
asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the new roads which are being constructed on the Continent avoid level crossings of any sort, giving preference to tunnels or bridges; and whether he proposes to adopt that practice in respect to all new roads in this country?
Certain new motor roads on the Continent are being so constructed as to avoid level crossings (whether road or rail); but I do not know that the practice is general. I am not giving assistance from the Road Fund towards the construction of any new road which involves railway level crossings. Where new road crossings are involved, careful consideration is given to the adoption of the safest practicable form of junction, and in suitable cases bridges are approved for carrying one road over another.
Stationary Motor-Cars, Public Thoroughfares
asked the Minister of Transport, whether he can devise some alternative method to stop the practice of owners of motor vehicles using side streets in the London traffic area for storing their cars, in view of the inadequate garage accommodation now existing?
I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to a somewhat similar question yesterday. Pending the provision of adequate garage accommodation, a certain amount of parking in side streets for short periods is inevitable in order to relieve congested streets of waiting vehicles. If my hon. Friend can assist me by any suggestions I shall be glad to consider them.
Palestine
Constitution
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, when the proposed constitution for Palestine will be laid before the House?
Any change in the constitution of Palestine would be effected by means of an Order-in-Council amending the Palestine Order-in-Council of 1922, which was issued under the provisions of the Foreign Jurisdiction Act of 1890. Section 11 provides that every Order-in-Council made in pursuance of the Act shall be laid before both Houses of Parliament after it is made. But I should certainly give the House full information as to any proposed change before any Order was made.
Huleh Concession
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, upon what terms the Lake Huleh concession has been transferred from an Arab group to a Jewish group; and what is the personnel of the Jewish group?
The following is the statement issued by the High Commissioner for Palestine after an interview on the 1st December with the officers of the Arab Executive in Jerusalem:
"The first concerns the Huleh Concession, and I wish to say a few words on that; subject to prevent any chance of misunderstanding.
Since I first came to Palestine I have been most anxious that drainage and development should be undertaken in the Huleh on sound lines and on a large scale, for two chief reasons:
The Concessionaires have the approval of Government in transferring their concession to another group for four principal reasons:
As High Commissioner I think that it is for the good of the country that there is now every prospect that about 40,000 dunums of marshy land, of little value at present to anyone, will be drained and made available for cultivation: that the economic position of local Arabs will be improved: that malaria will be greatly reduced, if not wholly eradicated, with the best results to the health and happiness of the inhabitants of that district."
The actual purchasers of the Huleh concession are the Palestine Land Development Company; but I am not in a position to say what is the composition of the group which the company is forming.
Kenya (Police Force)
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the acting commissioner of police in Kenya has recently submitted to the Government a report on the prevalence of crime in relation to the reductions in the police force of the Colony; and whether he proposes to publish it?
I have seen this report, and I am arranging for a copy of it to be placed in the Library of the House.
Corporal Punishment
asked the Home Secretary how many of the adult offenders sentenced to flogging or birching by courts of assize and quarter sessions during the years 1933 and 1934, respectively, were first offenders; how many were under 21 years of age; how many were committed to Borstal institutions as the second part of their punishment; and in how many of these cases was the punishment inflicted with the cat and in how many with the birch?
| — | Number sentenced to corporal punishment. | With "cat." | With birch. | Under 21 years. | |||||
| With "cat." | With birch. | ||||||||
| 1932 | … | … | … | … | 63 | 30 | 33 | 3 | 12 |
| 1933 | … | … | … | … | 44 | 21 | 23 | 4 | 7 |
Capital Punishment
asked the Home Secretary whether he will consider the advisability of introducing legislation abolishing the law by which women can suffer the death penalty and forbidding the exhibition or publication of newspaper posters or other sensational matter relative to such things?
The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. As regard the second part, it is deplorable that certain newspapers should make the carrying out of a sentence of death the occasion for sensational copy, but my hon. Friend will appreciate the difficulty of attempting to deal by legislation with offences against good taste.
Scotland
Prison Regulations (Use Of Leg Chains)
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his attention has been drawn to the form of punishment being meted out to John Ramensky at Peterhead prison for gaol breaking, where shackles are placed on his legs whilst undergoing solitary confinement; and if he is prepared to put an end to this form of punishment?
Figures for 1934 are not yet available, but I can supply the following particulars of adult offenders ordered corporal punishment at Quarter Sessions and Assizes during 1932 and 1933:
I am obliged to the hon. Member for drawing my attention to this matter. The answer to the first part is in the affirmative, and in reply to the second part orders have been given to discontinue the use of leg chains in Ramensky's case, and that this method of restraint is not to be employed in future. I am inquiring forthwith into the whole code of prison regulations.
Poultry Keeping (Sex Determination)
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether in view of the increasing adoption of sex determination of chicks by large poultry firms in England and the almost complete absence of the system in Scotland, he will take steps to make the method known to Scottish poultry producers, with a view to encouraging the most scientific and profitable methods in Scotland?
The subject has been brought to the notice of the agricultural colleges in Scotland, and I understand that arrangements are being made whereby a method of distinguishing the sex of day-old chicks will be demonstrated to county instructresses in poultry-keeping at an early date.
Board Of Health (Consultative Councils)
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, what consultative councils were originally established under Section 5 of the Scottish Board of Health Act, 1919, and which of these councils still continue to function; how many members there are on each of the existing councils; and how many meetings of each of the councils have been held in the years 1932, 1933, and 1934, respectively?
By Order in Council dated 20th December, 1919, four Consultative Councils were established under Section 5 of the Scottish Board of Health Act, 1919, as follow:
| Consultative Council. | Number of Members. | Number of Meetings of Council and Subcommittees. | |||
| 1932. | 1933. | 1934. | |||
| (1) | … | 20 | 8 | 1 | — |
| (2) | … | 15 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| (3) | … | 16 | 5 | — | 4 |
| (4) | … | 14 | — | — | — |
Milk Marketing Scheme
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether the proposed levy on producer-retailers of £5 per cow per annum is to be payable on the total number of cows in possession or on the number of cows actually in milk at any one time?
This point is being considered in adjusting the arrangements to be made for payment of the levy. I will inform the honourable Member of the details of these arrangements when they have been finally adjusted.
Argentina (British Railways)
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the hardship entailed upon ordinary shareholders in the British-financed railways of the Argentine by the decision regarding working expenses and certain fixed charges, and in view of the inability of the British board of directors of the various railways adequately to defend the interests of their ordinary shareholders, he will make representations to the Argentine Government that, unless British capital is permitted to earn dividend, a ban will be placed upon British loans for the development of Argentina beyond the period of the present embargo?
I can assure my honourable Friend that the position of British railways in Argentina is being very carefully watched, but I do not think that the question could be dealt with in the manner which he suggests.
Unemployment Insurance (Agricultural Labourers)
asked the Minister of Labour when the Unemployment Insurance Statutory Committee expects to be able to furnish its report upon the extension of unemployment insurance to agricultural labourers?
I expect to receive this report at an early date.