§ 47. Mr. J. Hyndasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the Mwanza Branch of the Tanganyika African Union 957 has been refused registration under the Societies Ordinance.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydRegistration has been refused because the Registrar of Societies was satisfied that this branch was being used for purposes prejudicial to peace, order, and good government.
§ Mr. HyndDoes not the refusal of registration mean that this branch is unlawful and that its property is now vested in the District Commissioner; and should that be done without adequate reason? Can the House be given the reason, because, if there has been any disorder, has it not been completely isolated, and may it not be due to the fact that the people have not been properly informed about some of the problems with which they are concerned?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI think that certainly the people who are sometimes called professional society organisers, some of whom have interests quite apart from the interests of their so-called constituents, are fully informed as to the law. Over 200 applications for registration have been granted, and only four have been refused, and nothing could be worse for these societies than that the wrong society should be recognised.
§ Mr. HyndMay I ask the Minister to tell the House the circumstances which caused the banning of this society, because it is most important that the House should know?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe Ordinance under which the registrar acted is Section 9 (a), under which it is open to him to refuse registration where he is satisfied that the society is being used for purposes 'prejudicial to or incompatible with the maintenance of peace, order, and good government. It is not always desirable in public to give all the reasons which lead a responsible official to come to a conclusion of that kind.