§ 6. Mr. Parkerasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether he will consider the possibility of establishing a Legislative Council in Bechuanaland; and whether he will arrange for a party of senior officials and leading Africans to visit other British territories in East and Central Africa to study current developments in the growth of representative institutions.
§ Mr. Gordon-WalkerThe aim of His Majesty's Government is to develop representative and responsible institutions in the Bechuanaland Protectorate. A joint council, representative of the European and African Advisory Councils, has recently been established and will be consulted on matters of joint interest to the African and European communities. It would be premature to consider a grant of legislative powers to this body at this stage. I am considering the possibility of visits by representative persons from the Protectorate to other territories to study local African government and, in particular, district councils, which is the field most appropriate to the Protectorate's present stage of development.
§ Mr. SorensenHow many of these district councils have yet been established, and what will be the speed, approximately, with which progress is made towards the legislative powers which my right hon. Friend has in mind?
§ Mr. Gordon-WalkerWithout notice I could not say how many district councils there are in the whole of the Bechuanaland Protectorate. It is difficult to say how quickly progress can be made towards getting legislative powers for such a body as this. It depends upon economic and social development, upon the desires and wishes of the members of the council, and matters of that sort; so I do not think I can give a date.
§ Mr. BowenCould the Minister tell the House how many times the joint council to which he has referred has met?
§ Mr. Gordon-WalkerThe joint council has only recently been set up in response, I am glad to say, to representations from both the African and European Advisory Councils. It has met once or twice.