§ 32. Mr. John Hyndasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the composition of the African Representative Council in Northern Rhodesia; how its members are chosen; and whether, when it submits nominations for African representation in the Legislative Council, it may submit the names of any Africans, or only of its own members.
§ Mr. J. GriffithsThis Council is composed of the Secretary for Native Affairs, who is ex officio its President, and 29 members, all of whom are Africans, representing the various Provinces of Northern Rhodesia. The members are elected from and by the delegates to the respective African Provincial Councils, with the exception of those from the Barotse Province who are nominated by the Paramount Chief in consultation with the Provincial Commissioner. The Council may select African members for appointment to the Legislative Council only from its own members.
§ Mr. HyndDoes not my right hon. Friend consider, in view of the difficulty of finding qualified applicants for these responsible administrative posts, that it would be an advantage to enable this Council to nominate qualified Africans from outside its own members?
§ Mr. GriffithsI understand that the reason why they are confined is because these are Africans appointed by their own people and, therefore, thought to be the best applicants for the Legislative Council.