85. Captain GAZALETasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, seeing that Baron von Bultzingslowen was convicted in a Tanganyika court and before the supreme court of East Africa of flogging a native within an inch of his life, that Chief Justice Abrahams held that he was lucky in not being charged with a graver offence, and that the Governor has now set aside the deportation order, the Home Government was in any way consulted upon the matter before the Governor of Tanganyika decided to cancel this deportation; and what steps it is proposed to take?
Under SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. J. H. Thomas)The decision not to accept the court's recommendation for expulsion was made by the Governor of Tanganyika in Council under the Expulsion of Undesirables Ordinance, and no question of reference to His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom arose. I have asked the Governor to report the grounds for the decision taken in the matter.
§ Mr. PALINGIs the flogging of natives common in this territory?
Mr. THOMASI hope it is not common. I hope that this is an exception to the general practice. I am not happy about the circumstances, and that is why I am asking why the Governor took this course.
§ Mr. PALINGIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that recently there appeared in the "Radio Times" a letter from a correspondent in Southern Rhodesia in which it was virtually admitted that domestic troubles among the natives are settled by rough justice administered by a sjambok?
§ Lieut.-Commander FLETCHERIf the right hon. Gentleman is not satisfied on examination with the reasons which the Governor gives, will he see that the original sentence of deportation is carried out?
Mr. THOMASMost certainly I am not satisfied on my present information. In my judgment this particular individual would be an undesirable individual in any colony or anywhere. The difficulty would be to find anywhere to send him.