§ 24. Mr. Sorensenasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the position respecting the granting of a new municipal ordinance in Freetown.
§ Mr. George HallAn ordinance was enacted in June designed to give the city council of Freetown greater control over municipal affairs on a more democratic basis. The nature of this legislation has been widely misrepresented and misunderstood, and as a result of an intensive campaign the registration of voters under the new ordinance was almost completely boycotted. It has therefore become necessary to amend this ordinance so as to postpone its coming into effect until a date to be notified by the Governor, thus automatically continuing the life of the existing ordinance for the time being.
§ Mr. SorensenMay I ask whether this misunderstanding, in the estimation of the right hon. Gentleman, was deliberate or accidental; and if deliberate, can he say how it is there has been this agitation?
§ Mr. HallI would not like to say it is deliberate but it is a misunderstanding which ought to be cleared up.
§ Mr. SorensenWould the right hon. Gentleman take every possible action to see that it is cleared up, because I understand there is some disturbance over there as a consequence of this ordinance?