§ 71. Colonel WEDGWOODasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Governor of Kenya is urging Indians in Kenya to accept community representation instead of pressing for a common roll of electors; and whether, in view of the Wood-Winterton agreement and the compromise effected in Ceylon, and the experience of community representation in India, the Colonial Office supports the Governor of Kenya in advocating community representation?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREI have seen a report in the Press of a speech by the Governor to a conference of Indian associations at which this policy was advocated. I can only refer the right hon. Member to the decision of His Majesty's Government in the White Paper of 1923 that the interests of all concerned in Kenya would be best served by the adoption of a communal system of representation.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODDoes that decision in the White Paper, which, I think, is contrary to the decision of the Wood-Winterton agreement, apply not merely to elections to the Legislature, but also to all elections to local authorities in East Africa?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GORECertainly, I think the decision of the Cabinet in 1923 was definitely to reject the Wood-Winterton proposal and substitute communal representation. The question of the representation of different races in Kenya on local bodies is still under consideration, and I do not wish to prejudice the case one way or other.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODCan we be assured that the case will not he prejudiced by the Governor making such a speech?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREI do not think that is so. My own view is that communal representation, as it was decided by the Cabinet in 1923, is the best under all the local circumstances.