§ 23. Colonel WEDGWOODasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Feetham Commission was appointed to deal with local government in Kenya Colony; and whether the Terms of Reference to the Commission have been enlarged so as to include recommendations regarding questions of general colonial administration, such as alterations in the judicial system?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. By a Commission, dated 8th October, 1926, the original Terms of Reference were extended to include an inquiry into the desirability of granting magisterial power to selected Justices of the Peace in the settled areas of the colony and the extent of the powers, if any, which should be so granted.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODAre we to take it that the Government's approval or qualified approval of the Report of the Commission includes approval of the recommendation that settlers should act as magistrates
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREI have not received a communication from the Governor about that. All that he has reported is that he is sending this Report to the districts concerned and consulting both official and unofficial residents before letting me know his views.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware of the extraordinary undesirability of allowing people to be judges in labour questions where their interests are directly concerned?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREI think the rule that obtains in regard to magistrates in this country where their interests are concerned will obviously obtain there.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODBut magistrates in this country do not get labour under regulations which they direct.
§ Mr. MACQUISTENWill the Government pay as much attention to the findings of this Commission as they did to the findings of the Feetham Commission in the Irish boundary case?