Correspondence, 1943-1950

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Contains:

(fol. 1) letter to C.E. Austin, Trinidad Government Railways, enclosing copies of Answers to Questions about the position of clerical civil servants employed by the railways, 9 Dec 1946
(fols. 2-5) correspondence with the Rev. G.T. Bartholomew, All Saints Church, Port-of-Spain, about his subscription to the Bureau, its work and publications, and developmental and educational problems in Trinidad, 8 Aug 1944-19 Jul 1945
(fols. 6-12) letter from Reynold Benjamin, c/o Public Works and Public Workers Trade Union, about compensation for family land taken over for an air base under the Land Acquisition Ordinance; and reply (see also: MSS. Brit. Emp. s. 365/143, folder 1, fols. 43-47), 1 Jun-10 Jul 1944
(fols. 13-14) letter to Sydney Branche replying to an enquiry made through Lord Winster about technical problems involved in forming a Co-operative Society in Trinidad, 1 Jan-12 Mar 1945
(fol. 15) letter to Victor Bryan, MLC (Member of the Legislative Council), about joining the Bureau (see also: MSS. Brit. Emp. s. 365/145, folder 1, fols. 174-200; MSS. Brit. Emp. s. 365/145, folder 3, fols. 199-203), 28 Nov 1947
(fols. 16-23) correspondence with C.W. Burrows, Industrial Adviser, and a related correspondence with John Lewis, Rubber Improvement Ltd., London, about membership of the Bureau, sugar and oil negotiations, trade union and labour matters, health and unemployment insurance, and co-operatives in Trinidad. There are references to Simey and Stockdale, and to Sir John MacPherson's appointment as Comptroller for Development and Welfare (see also: MSS Brit. Emp. s. 365/145, folder 2, item 28; MSS Brit. Emp. s. 365/145, folder 3, fols. 12-13), 11 Jan-29 May 1945
(fols. 24-28) correspondence with M.H. Pollonais, Secretary, the Colonial Study Group, Pointe-à-Pierre, about the group's aims and the possibilities of collaboration with the FCB West Indies Committee, with examples of action taken by the Bureau over Jamaican affairs, 16 May-20 Jun 1945
(fols. 29-31) letter to Quinton O'Connor, Federated Workers Trade Union, thanking him for sending material and commenting on the recent sugar agreement and the forthcoming World Trade Union Congress. Also letters of introduction for Albert Gomes, MLC (Member of the Legislative Council), President of the Union, on his visit to Britain in 1946; and for Trevor Williams, visiting Trinidad to report for the Daily Mirror in 1947 (see also: MSS. Brit. Emp. s. 365/145, folder 1, fols. 211, 208-219; MSS Brit. Emp. s. 365/145, folder 2, fols. 33-34; MSS Brit. Emp. s. 365/145, folder 3, fols. 199-203), 25 Jan 1945-Feb 1947
(fols. 32-39) correspondence with Denis P. George about the difficulty of obtaining government employment in Trinidad after special training in Britain on a Colonial Office ex-serviceman's scholarship; and related letters from J.L. Keith, Colonial Office Welfare Department, to Rita Hinden, and from Creech Jones in reply to a question by Rankin, 12 May-13 Jul 1949
(fols. 40-42) correspondence with E.A. George, Editor of the Federated News-letter, Trinidad, about the use of material for Venture, 9-30 Nov 1949
(fols. 43-47) letters to Rupert Gittens, General Secretary, Public Works and Public Services Workers Union, acknowledging receipt of the Union's quarterly record, Labour Programme, and sending copies of Answers by Hall to Questions about unemployment insurance, wages in the oil industry, unemployment among seamen, wage scales for public employees, recruitment of waterfront workers, and housing in Trinidad (see also: MSS. Brit. Emp. s. 365/145, folder 1, fols. 6-12, 211; MSS Brit. Emp. s. 365/145, folder 2, fols. 30-34), 27 Jan-13 Dec 1944
(fols. 48-51) letters to Gomes (see fol. 50) sending copies of Answers by Creech Jones to Questions about Federation, revision of the Constitution, labour officers, social insurance, development grants, oil revenue, broadcasting and proposals for a free harbour; and a letter of introduction for Trevor Williams (see fol. 31), 2 Nov 1946-Feb 1947
(fols. 52-106) correspondence with Gaskynd Granger, Tobago Peasants and Industrial Workers Union, about conditions in Tobago, in particular land rights, transport and medical services, and conditions of employment in the Public Works Department. The many related enclosures include copies of the following: correspondence between Granger, the manager of the Roxburgh Estate, members of the Union and local government officials; Answers to Questions on points raised by Granger and a related letter from Rees-Williams, U-S/S Col., to W.R. Williams, MP; a petition against the dismissal of U.A. Jervis from the transport services; a complaint by E. Bishop about inadequate medical treatment following an accident at work; and a resolution by the Union requesting a Public Inquiry into conditions of travel and transport (see also: MSS. Brit. Emp. s. 365/145, folder 2, fols. 28-32, 129), 31 Oct 1946-7 Jun 1948
(fol. 107) letter from Mildred Greenidge about accommodation in London, 1 Feb 1946
(fols. 108-109) letter from Lewis Harding about Labour's colonial policy in relation to Trinidad's problems, in particular the closing down of the Trinidad Paper Pulp Co. Ltd. and the lack of passenger ships to the island; with a reply quoting an Answer to a question by Skinnard about the Company (see also: MSS. Brit. Emp. s. 365/145, folder 3, fols. 170-178), 14 Jul-30 Dec 1946
(fol. 110) letter to Chanka Maharaj, MLC (Member of the Legislative Council), introduced by Dr Solomon, about membership of the Bureau (see also: MSS Brit. Emp. s. 365/145, folder 3, fols. 199-203), 28 Nov 1947
(fols. 111-126) correspondence with Ralph Mentor, Editor of Vanguard, and General Secretary of the Oilfield Workers' Trade Union, including a cable from Mentor acknowledging help; a letter of introduction for Trevor Williams (see fol. 31 above); correspondence between Rita Hinden and Mentor about a question by Rankin about Trinidad's Workmen's Compensation Laws arising out of a broadcast speech by Mentor; and copies of articles by Mentor about two draft Police Ordinances (1949) in relation to membership of friendly societies or trade unions (see also: MSS. Brit. Emp. s. 365/145, folder 1, fols. 133-134, 211; MSS. Brit. Emp. s. 365/145, folder 2, fols. 114-126; MSS. Brit. Emp. s. 365/145, folder 3, fols. 199-203), 25 May [1944?]-5 May 1949
(fols. 127-129) correspondence between Dr Vivian M. Metivier and Rita Hinden about conditions in the island, cuttings from the Trinidad Guardian sent by Metivier, the Report of the Medical and Health Policy Committee, the work of the British Council, election delays, and the retention of illiteracy tests. There are references to Elected Members and to Colonel George McLean, the new Director of Medical Services (see also MSS. Brit. Emp. s. 365/145, folder 2, item 25), 26 Oct 1944-29 Jan 1945
(fols. 130-132) correspondence with Oli Mohamed, Assistant General Secretary, Trinidad Transport and General Workers' Trade Union, about The Union's FCB membership and Mohamed's offer to act as agent for the sale of Bureau publications, 2 Nov 1944-20 Apr 1945
(fols. 133-134) letters to John Rojas, Oilfield Workers' Trade Union (see fols. 11-26 above) about a paper by Rojas on oil workers' difficulties and related matters, and about a visit to Trinidad by Trevor Williams (see fol. 31) (see also: MSS. Brit. Emp. s. 365/145, folder 3, fols. 20-34, 199-203), 29 Nov 1945-Feb 1947
(fol. 135) letter from use to G.H. Ong about his subscription to the Bureau, 13 Dec 1950
(fols. 136-137) letter from A.C. Pearse, Extra-Mural Department, University College of the West Indies, Trinidad, to Rita Hinden about publicity for Caribbean Quarterly; and a reply from Marjorie Nicholson suggesting possible outlets in Nigeria. There are references to J.V. Clinton, Editor of the Nigerian Eastern Mail; Professor Eyo Ita, Peoples' Institute, Calabar; Majorie Stewart, Christian Literature Bureau, formerly of the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA), Jamaica; and Dr Wellesley Cole, 21 Nov-21 Dec 1949
(fols. 138-158) correspondence with Dr David Pitt, founder of the West Indian National Party, about FCB membership and Trinidad's affairs, including: Uriah Butler's detention (see also: MSS. Brit. Emp. s. 365/145, folder 2, fols. 13-14, 20-22); constitutional matters - Trinidad's position contrasted with that of other West Indian colonies (with a copy of a related petition from the West Indian National Party (WINP)); the Legislative Council's insistence on language tests for voters; the need for the Bureau and the Labour Party to press for reform; the 1946 elections and the use of voting symbols; the unemployment problem; waterfront strikes 1946; and Trevor Williams's visit to report conditions for the Daily Mirror in 1947. Those mentioned include Dr Solomon and other members of the WINP's Executive (see also: MSS. Brit. Emp. s. 365/145, folder 1, fols. 74-200; MSS. Brit. Emp. s. 365/145, folder 3, fols. 211-217), Oct 1944-Feb 1947
(fols. 159-162, item 1) letter from Bertram Jack [Acting] General Secretary of the Public Works and Public Services Workers' Union, enclosing copies of letters from the Union to the Colonial Secretary outlining proposals for improvements in the terms of workers' employment and a copy of Labour Programme (Oct-Dec 1945) (see also: MSS. Brit. Emp. s. 365/145, folder 1, fols. 43-47), 2-17 Jan 1946
(fol. 163) letter from C. Lancelot Redhead, Hon. Secretary of the Civil Service Association of Trinidad and Tobago, enrolling the Association with the FCB. The letter is intended to accompany copies of the Association's publications. (MSS. Brit. Emp. s. 365/133, folder 4, fols. 20-22; MSS. Brit. Emp. s. 365/133, folder 5, fols. 29-33; MSS. Brit. Emp. s. 365/147, folder 2, fols. 5-17), 25 Jun 1949
(fols. 164-165) letter from C.K. Robinson, Caribbean Research Council, about sources of information on the establishment of co-operatives in the colonies with particular reference to the FCB Report, Co-operation in the Colonies, and its implementation by the Colonial Office, 5-21 May 1948
(fols. 166-168) letter from Lieutenant R.H. Sanders, RNVR (Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve), stationed in Trinidad, to Dr H.B. Morgan, MP, in response to a letter from Morgan in the West Indian about lack of interest in West Indian affairs, requesting information about FCB publications; with a reply from the Bureau, 30 Nov 1944-9 Jan 1945
(fols. 169-172) cable from the Seamen's and Waterfront Workers' Union about the government's handling of the 8 Nov 1946 strike, and a reply offering help and quoting a letter from the Colonial Office outlining the facts; with a note referring to a letter from the General Secretary, Edward Hartley, dated 13 Dec 1946 (see MSS. Brit. Emp. s. 365/145, folder 3, fols. 161-169); and a letter of introduction for Trevor Williams (see fol. 31), 12 Nov 1946-Feb 1947
(fol. 173) letter from T.S. Simey asking John Parker to review the official Report of the Agricultural Policy Committee (Chairman: A.J. Wakefield) and commenting on its members, 25 Mar 1943
(fols. 174-200) correspondence with Dr P. Solomon, President of the Caribbean Socialist Party, about FCB membership; the Party's affairs; a question prompted by Solomon about the Caura Dam project; Grantley Adam's speech to the UN Trusteeship Council defending British policy; and constitutional reform, in particular: Solomon's role in the minority report on Trinidad's Constitution; delay by the Colonial Office in granting reform; consequent West Indian disillusionment with Britain's colonial policy, and a related rift in the Peoples' National Party (PNP), Jamaica; Solomon's visit to Britain in 1948, and his reception on returning to Trinidad; the attitude of the Governor, Sir John Shaw; demonstrations at the opening of the Legislature (Oct 1948), with a copy of a petition protesting at police handling of the event. There are references to Creech Jones, Bustamante, Butler, Gomes, Bryan, and Pitt; and related newspaper cuttings sent by Solomon (see also: MSS. Brit. Emp. s. 365/145, folder 1, fols. 138-158; MSS. Brit. Emp. s. 365/145, folder 3, fols. 199-203, 218-255), 15 Apr-29 Nov 1948
(fols. 201-206) correspondence with Alfred A. Thompson, Social Welfare Department, Port-of-Spain, about Questions suggested by him on behalf of the local Civil Service Association about conditions of employment in West Indian government service, in particular the appointment of people of diverse racial backgrounds to senior posts; with related extracts from Hansard, and a letter of introduction for Trevor Williams (see fol. 31). There is a reference to the new Governor, Sir John Shaw (see also: MSS. Brit. Emp. s. 365/145, folder 3, fol. 170), 20 Nov 1946-18 Apr 1947
(fol. 207) letter from W.F. Watson, Sugar Manufacturer's Association of Trinidad, intended to accompany a copy of the Agricultural Policy Committee's Report sent at Simey's request (see fol. 173), and asking for the Bureau's help and comments, 13 Apr 1943
(fols. 208-219) correspondence with W.A.R. Webster, Establishment Officer, Imperial Censorship, Trinidad, about his subscription; FCB and other publications on the West Indies; the need for correspondents in Trinidad; the social effects of Roman Catholicism; political alignments in the colony; disillusionment with socialism resulting from the Labour Government's delay in reforming the Constitution; and a projected group survey of the colony's social problems as a possible basis for a Fabian pamphlet. Also, a related letter from the Bureau to Callaghan of the Fabian Society's Llandudno Branch, who introduced Webster. There are references to O'Connor, Mentor and Gittens, and to Vanguard, 13 Apr 1944-12 Jul 1945
(fols. 220-257) report by Trevor Williams of the Daily Mirror on conditions in Trinidad (two copies) (see also: MSS. Brit. Emp. s. 365/145, folder 3, fols. 179-196), Apr 1947.