§ 59. Mr. Sorensenasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he can now make a statement respecting the future relationship of Southern and Northern Rhodesia; the estimated number of native population of adults and of children in Southern and Northern Rhodesia, respectively; and the number of punishments of natives by beating or whipping that were inflicted for the last available year?
§ Sir T. InskipAs to the first part of the question, a statement in regard to the recent report of the Rhodesia-Nyasaland Royal Commission will be made shortly. As to the other two parts of the question, the only available population figures for Southern and Northern Rhodesia do not distinguish between native adults and children. The number of sentences of corporal punishment imposed upon natives in Southern Rhodesia in 1938 (including cases of punishment for prison offences) was 1,056. In Northern Rhodesia, the figure for 1937 was 292.
§ Mr. SorensenDoes the right hon. Gentleman not agree that the figures regarding beatings in prison do not form a good advertisement for democratic government in that part of the Empire?