§ 17. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies in what languages are the Government ordinances in Kenya Colony printed; and whether ordinances for the regulation of natives and their labour are printed in Swahili?
§ Mr. AMERYOrdinances are printed in Kenya in English only. As I informed my hon. Friend the Member for Hartlepool (Sir W. Sugden) on the 7th March, I hope to discuss this question with the Governor while he is in England.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs there any reason why they should not be printed in Swahili at once, if the right hon. Gentleman ordered it? Has the, right hon. Gentleman noticed the letters and articles by Archdeacon Owen on this very important question in the "Manchester Guardian"?
§ Mr. AMERYYes, Sir, I have, but it is by no means certain that the printing of these Ordinances in Swahili would make them more available for the great bulk of the native population, who speak a great variety of different languages.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that Archdeacon Owen thought it would help in this matter'?
§ Mr. MACQUISTENIs it not the case that there is no Swahili literature, and that the printing of this language would be a mere invention of the white man?