§ 35. Mr. Rankinasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if Mr. Hughes still holds the post of District Commissioner of Nyeri in view of the fact that he admitted in evidence that he had directed headmen that they might imprison Africans at discretion, a course described by Mr. Justice Cram in a judgment on 10th December, 1954, as repugnant to British justice and morality.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydNo, Sir. Having completed a tour of duty in the emergency areas, he was posted as District Commissioner, Mombasa, in January.
§ Mr. RankinIs the Minister satisfied that this District Commissioner is now in a place where any views that he may have will not create the trouble that they might have created in the place where he was recently situated?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydIf the hon. Gentleman had, as I have had, the pleasure of the friendship of the officer concerned, he would not make a remark of that kind. The work that is done in Kenya must often be judged against the exigencies of the period. I know the outstanding work that Mr. Hughes has done for the Kikuyu people, and I am sure that other hon. Members who have been there also know it.
§ Mr. RankinNevertheless, will not the Minister agree that District Commissioners, to whose work we generally pay a great tribute, ought to be very careful about the views which they express in these difficult areas?
§ Mr. OsborneWhat about hon. Members?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI think that prudence in speech is desirable both in Kenya and in England.
§ Mr. RankinWhat about Scotland?