§ 39. Mr. Sorensenasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why there is no African member of the Nigeria Supply Board, although European interests are represented; and whether he will take immediate steps to ensure adequate African representation on the Board?
§ Mr. Emrys-EvansThe Board to which the hon. Member refers is an executive and not a deliverative body, and the Government are responsible for all matters of policy. The object of the Board is to bring about the closest co-ordination between the several Departments concerned with supply, and the commercial members of the Board were appointed on account of their experience in dealing with such matters, and not in order to represent European commercial interests. The question of representing African as compared with European interests does not therefore arise.
§ Mr. SorensenIs it not strange that all the members of this Nigerian Board should be European, and that none of them should be African? Does it mean that there is no African capable of representing his own country on the Board?
§ Mr. Emrys-EvansNo, Sir. It is practically, in all cases, an official Board, and the only two commercial representatives are there only in an advisory capacity.
§ Mr. SorensenThat does not answer the point at all. Why cannot there be an official African on the Board?