§ 23. Mr. J. Johnsonasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action he proposes to take regarding constitutional change in Mauritius following the recent debate in the Legislative Council of this Colony.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI shall study with interest the record of the debate which has only recently reached me. I trust 572 that it will be possible to adhere to the timetable for action outlined in my reply to the hon. Member on 13th March.
§ Mr. JohnsonIs the Minister aware that the voting in favour of his proposal was fifteen to fourteen and that there would have been a tie if Mr. Rougemont had not died before the voting took place? Is he further aware that only four elected members voted in favour of his proposal, and that he flung in eight official members, including three officers of the Crown, to get the voting in his favour on this matter?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe way in which the hon. Member has put the matter is not quite consistent with the facts. I had many discussions with representatives from Mauritius when they were here some time ago. I am convinced that the proposals which we have put forward are most in tune with the interests and the problems of heterogeneous communities such as we have in Mauritius. I ask hon. Members and all in Mauritius as well to look at these proposals as a whole and not to pick out only that part which the Mauritius Labour Party dislikes and that part which the other side dislikes. I am convinced that the more the proposals are studied as a whole, the more they will command support.