HC Deb 21 June 1944 vol 401 c185
37. Mr. Sorensen

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why eight of the boys of King's College, Nigeria, who were unsuccessfully prosecuted by their headmaster for a breach of the peace, were conscripted for the Army; if he will state the cause of the death of one of these boys; and why the senior boarders have not been readmitted to the school.

Colonel Stanley

As the answer is necessarily rather long, I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Sorensen

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman sure that he has not given the wrong reply to the Question? Surely, Question 37 does not require a long reply?

Colonel Stanley

I thought the hon. Member was interested in the case and therefore I am giving him a full answer.

Following is the answer:

The eight boys in question were dismissed for refusing to obey the orders of the principal. Although of military age and liable for conscription, they had not previously been considered for military service in the interests of their studies. When they were dismissed it was decided to conscript them, as the Army was in need of literate recruits. The prosecution was not of course for refusal to obey the orders of the school authorities, but for alleged subsequent disorderly conduct in a public thoroughfare. Notices to report for Army medical examination were served before the court procedure started. With regard to the second part of the Question, death was due to peritonitis. The answer to the third part of the Question is that, having considered all applications for readmission on their merits, the education authorities decided that, in the interests of discipline, readmission of the senior boarders could not be allowed. They have, however, arranged, with the co-operation of the principals concerned, for deserving students to be admitted in small groups to other secondary schools.