§ 14. Mr. CECIL WILSONasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the sentence of three years' hard labour imposed on Ira Macdonald Lawrence, a Nyasaland native, for importing into the country six copies of the "Negro World," published in Philadelphia, and two copies of the "Workers' Herald," published in Johannesburg; to what country it is proposed to deport this Nyasaland native; why, since the Ordinance under which the native was convicted was promulgated before the end of the War as a War-time Measure, it is now continued and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?
§ Mr AMERYNo, Sir. If this native has been convicted under the Seditious Publications (Prohibition) Ordinance of 1918, he would, in the ordinary course, serve his sentence in Nyasaland, and the question of deportation would not arise. The Seditious Publications Ordinance was not passed as a War-time Measure, and the question of its continuance is primarily a matter for the consideration of the Governor of the Protectorate in the light of local conditions. I shall, no doubt, receive a report from the Governor on the case.
§ Mr. WILSONWhen will the Report be received?
§ Mr. WILSONAre these papers prohibited in the district where they are published?
§ Mr. AMERYNo. The local government have power to prohibit the distribution of those papers which they think, under the local circumstances, would create sedition or trouble.
§ Mr. WILSONMay we understand what "local circumstances" are?