§ 47. Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEasked the Prime Minister whether the Southern Rhodesian Bill for the control of natives has yet been passed by the Legislative Assembly of Southern Rhodesia and presented to the Governor for His Majesty's assent; and whether opportunity will be given to this House to discuss the Clauses in that Bill which confer upon native commissioners the right of indicting, trying, and punishing any native whom they deem guilty of certain offences against themselves, with the permission, in the case of children under 16 years of age, of sentencing them to a whipping, before His Majesty's assent is given thereto?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe Act was assented to by the Governor on the 29th July, but contains a Section suspending its operation until His Majesty's pleasure not to disallow it has been proclaimed. Correspondence on the subject of the Act is still proceeding, and His Majesty's pleasure has not yet been signified. In reply to the second part of the question, it will be appreciated that in the present state of Parliamentary business it is impossible for me to give time for discussion this Session.
§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEAm I to understand, from the right hon. Gentleman's reply, that the assent will not be given next Session until we have had an opportunity of discussing this matter, particularly as this Bill seems to create a new offence of contemptuous behaviour, and to make the Commissioners prosecutors, judge and jury in their own case, and is liable to cause grave native unrest?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe matter, as I have said, is under discussion; I cannot say how long the discussions will proceed, or what will be the end of them. I could not give such an undertaking as is desired, but obviously, whether the matter be ended or not, it will be perfectly possible to debate it on the Dominions Office Vote in the spring.
§ Mr. THURTLEYesterday, Mr. Speaker, at Question Time, you rather rebuked me for asking a question relating to this matter. May I submit to you that it was perfectly proper for me to ask that question?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThis is one of those difficult matters of jurisdiction over parts of the Empire which have almost complete responsible government. I understand that the hon. Member was right in this case, and that there is a reservation dealing with native affairs in Southern Rhodesia; but the hon. Member will appreciate that I am not always able to bear all these things in mind on the spur of the moment.