HC Deb 30 June 1936 vol 314 cc197-8
6. Mr. CREECH JONES

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he is prepared to recommend that the Royal Assent be withheld from the Native Registration Bill of Southern Rhodesia, in view of the grave hardship and injustice imposed on the native people under that Measure; and whether he will advise against the enactment of the Sedition Bill in its present form?

The SECRETARY of STATE for DOMINION AFFAIRS (Mr. Malcolm MacDonald)

As regards the first part of the question, in view of the considerations mentioned in the replies which I gave to questions on this subject on 17th March and 26th May, I am not prepared to advise His Majesty to disallow the Southern Rhodesia Natives' Registration Act. As regards the second part of the question, the Sedition Bill has been passed by the Legislative Assembly, but the Act in its final form has not yet been submitted to me.

Mr. CREECH JONES

Is the Misister aware of the very severe restrictions which are placed on the natives both in regard to their movements and their trade, and is it not possible to disallow the Act, in view of the grave hardship and the enormous increase in prosecutions which will take place under the Pass law?

Mr. MacDONALD

I have said that the reason why I am not proposing to give that advice is that the Measure is largely a consolidation of existing Acts, and that the only new provision in the Act, in principle, is a provision which will act for the benefit of the natives.

Mr. PALING

Does the right hon. Gentleman mean to tell the House that he will give his consent to a Bill of such an alarming character, under which the natives in their own native land are little better than slaves? Is it in the interests of good government that they should have these drastic regulations put upon them?

Mr. MacDONALD

I cannot agree with a good deal of the description given by the hon. Member. I am afraid that I cannot add to what I have said.

Mr. PALING

Will not the right hon. Gentleman agree that the native cannot go into a proclaimed area even to find work without getting a pass, and that he cannot leave his location between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. without getting another pass?