§ 35. Mr. George Craddockasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the Government of Northern Rhodesia have reverted to the earlier practice of referring to Africans as "natives" in their official notices.
§ Mr. HopkinsonThere has been no change. "African" is normally used, except when reference to some older law or regulation makes the used of the word "native" necessary.
§ Mr. CraddockIs the Minister aware that many Africans believe that this is used as a term of contempt by Europeans, and will he please have the practice stopped?
§ Mr. HopkinsonThe position is that the word "African" is always used in official correspondence, documents and modern ordinances. The word "native" is only employed for the sake of clarity in referring to old ordinances in which the word "native" is used.
§ Colonel Gomme-DuncanIs my right hon. Friend aware that sensible people realise that a native of a country is a native of that country and that there is no insult in calling him such, whether it is in Kenya or in Scotland?