§ 46. Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEasked the Prime Minister whether, in the correspondence with the Southern Rhodesian Government relating to the Native Control Bill, he will draw the attention of that Government to the importance of securing that offences shall not be tried nor penalties inflicted by those who have made the charge against the alleged offender?
§ The PRIME MINISTERIt is presumed that the hon. Member refers to Section 17 of the Act. The Native Commissioners on whom the powers in question are conferred are judicial officers. In any event it is provided that the proceedings of all cases tried under this Section shall be reviewed by the Chief Native Commissioner, who is an officer of high standing and with wide experience of natives, and further, that all natives convicted under the Section shall be informed that they have the right of having their conviction brought by way of review or appeal before the High Court.
§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEIn view of the importance of this question, I propose to raise it to-morrow night on the Adjournment, or at the earliest opportunity.