§ 4. Sir WILLIAM DAVISONasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he is aware that a postal referendum took place during last month in Southern Rhodesia in which the electors were asked whether they were in favour of sweepstakes under strict legislative control; what was the result of the referendum; and what proportion of the electorate voted?
Mr. M. MacDONALDI am aware that a referendum on this subject has been held in Southern Rhodesia. I have no information regarding it other than that contained in Press reports from which it appears that the result of the referendum was a majority of 16,949 to 3,604 in favour of sweepstakes under strict legislative control and that 73 per cent. of the electorate voted.
§ Sir W. DAVISONWill the hon. Gentleman draw the attention of the Cabinet to this referendum and point out that whenever any country has had an opportunity of expressing an opinion on the subject it has approved of the proposal by an overwhelming majority?
§ Sir JOHN HASLAMWould he also draw the attention of the Cabinet to the fact that a parish council in Lancashire or Yorkshire could quite easily vote on the same subject, and vote, by an equally large majority, against such a proposal?
§ Sir W. DAVISONWill he also point out that France and Italy are not parish councils?