39. Mr. Creech Jonesasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether there has been any marked decrease in the number of voters in Jamaica in the past few years?
Mr. M. MacDonaldThe returns of registered voters for the past five years show that in each of the years 1934, 1935 and 1936 there was a decrease on the total for the previous year, but in 1937 there was an increase. I will circulate the figures in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
Mr. Creech JonesIn view of the decrease in the franchise roll due to the method of direct taxation, will the Minister now give his further consideration to the whole problem of widening the franchise, not only in Jamaica, but in the other islands, where political disabilities are suffered by the great mass of the working population?
Mr. MacDonaldI cannot answer that question without notice. I can only say that I have not received representations on that question from the Island.
§ The figures are as follow:
| 1933 | … | … | … | 71,427 |
| 1934 | … | … | … | 68,651 |
| 1935 | … | … | … | 66,121 |
| 1936 | … | … | … | 62,623 |
| 1937 | … | … | … | 62,867 |